Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #107869

David Maxwell, BA, National Labor College, 10000 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20903, 301-571-4226, rruttenberg@nationallaborcollege.edu

About fifty roofers are killed each year, mostly by falls. Government reports suggest that inadequate fall protection is responsible for most of the falls.

A survey was conducted to help determine if there are common reasons for not wearing personal protective equipment. Of the 99 surveys in this study, 2/3rds were completed in Spanish and the remainder in English. This is the approximate ratio in our local. This is a significant number of responses, since the education level of 2/3 of those completing the survey in Spanish is less than a high school education. This affects the understanding and implementation of any safety training program.

There are many types of personal safety equipment that need to be used in the roofing industry. I discovered that nearly no one is in compliance all of the time with all of their PPE. There were many reasons for not wearing PPE, the most common being that it was uncomfortable and that none was provided by their employer. Many of these items of PPE do not seem to be very important to the employer.

There needs to be an understanding between the employer and employee that to work in a safe manner and provide the necessary training and equipment along with the enforcement of safety rules is essential to provide a healthy, safe and profitable company.

Learning Objectives:

• See panel ID #105524

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.