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STC’s Guide to Roofing Safety to Celebrate National Roofing Week

At STC, we believe that safety should be celebrated in every situation because workplace safety saves the lives of workers every single day. That’s why we are highlighting the importance of roofing safety in honor of National Roofing Week. Here is the Safety Training & Compliance guide to roofing safety in honor of National Roofing Week, June 6th through 12th:

 

What is National Roofing Week?

Every year, National Roofing Week serves as a holiday to bring awareness to the importance of roofs for homes and businesses alike. Safety plays an essential role in roofing, as there are many risks involved with working at such great heights. We participate in National Roofing week to help increase awareness of the importance of safety when it comes to roofing jobs. 

 

Your Guide to Roofing Safety

When it comes to roofing safety, there are many things that you need to know in order to stay safe on the job. For starters, it is important to signify or close off areas where workers may be prone to falling. Each roof needs to have a raised warning line 15 feet from its edge, and barriers blocking off each skylight or roof hatch. In many cases, safety nets may need to be installed because accidents happen and workers may lose footing, falling off of the roof. 

 

The Importance of Safety Training

As with any job involving risks, safety training will play a crucial role in the safety of your entire crew. We encourage regular training sessions where workers can learn the guidelines to stay safe while roofing and build a safety culture where each worker can encourage each other to follow proper safety procedures. The importance of safety training before roofing begins cannot be overstated. Regular, accurate training sessions can very well save lives in the future. 

 

No matter how you choose to stay safe during roofing jobs, STC is here to help you make roofing safety simple. We are dedicated to providing Managed Safety Services, Safety Consulting Services and Instructor-Led Training to keep all of your employees safe on the job. Want to learn more about the importance of creating a strong safety culture? Check out our blog today!

 

Photo Sourced from Getty Images: #1179153745

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Bringing Awareness to Workers Memorial Day & OSHA’s 50th Anniversary

At STC, we believe that the work we do makes a difference in the lives of those we do it for, and this month will serve as a reminder of that fact. This year, April 28th will serve the dual purpose of Workers Memorial Day and OSHA’s 50th anniversary. As we work to honor both events, here is everything you need to know about the two momentous days from the safety experts at STC:

 

Honoring Lives for Workers Memorial Day

Workers Memorial Day serves as a day of remembrance for the lives that have been lost while on the job. Each year, companies around the world continue to lose employees to a variety of fatalities, many of which are preventable with the right training and equipment. Please join us in honoring the lives lost at worksites this Workers Memorial Day, April 28th, by making safety a priority in your workplace and keeping your employees educated in their own safety. 

 

Celebrating OSHA’s 50th Anniversary

While April 28th will serve as a day for remembrance, it will also serve as a day for celebrating OSHA’s 50th anniversary. When OSHA became law 50 years ago, the workers of the world united in a massive win for the safety of their jobs and themselves. After fifty years of passing laws, they have continued to make positive changes in the safety of many industries. We are honored to work closely with laws that work to continue our mission, preserving human life. 

 

Our Commitment to Preserving Lives

In 2021, STC is proud to be celebrating our 10-year anniversary and a decade of safety excellence. We have worked with a wide variety of clients in many different industries to help them create safer work environments, protect their employees and build internal safety cultures. We are proud of our work, and we will always continue to make our mission possible. 

 

No matter how you choose to protect the lives of your employees, STC is always here to make it simple. We have been committed to protecting lives since day one of operation. We offer a variety of managed safety services, from onsite safety staffing to safety consulting to help prepare your employees for every situation. Want to learn more about STC? Check out our blog today!

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The Top 5 Preventable Hazardous Workplace Situations

At STC, we believe that every dangerous situation in the workplace can be prevented through training, information and observation. Even the top five most occurring hazardous workplace situations are all easily preventable with the right training. Here is everything you need to know about preventing the top five hazardous workplace situations from the safety experts at STC:

Falls from Working at Heights

 

At the top of the hazardous workplace situations list sits the number one cause for workplace injuries, falls from working at heights. These kinds of fatalities and injuries are highly preventable. If your employees need to work at heights, it is crucial that they receive training that teaches them to observe their surroundings and find the right safety measures. 

Workplace Violence

 

At 13% of all non-roadway hazardous workplace situations, workplace violence is certainly something to be aware of on the job. Workplace violence situations can happen at any workplace, for a wide variety of reasons. It is important to understand the signs of workplace violence to teach your team so that they are able to prevent these situations beforehand. 

Repair and Maintenance

 

Repair and maintenance injuries are also a concern on the job site. They can range from electrocutions to burns and crushings. There are always a wide number of concerns when working with dangerous machines, electricity or welding equipment. To prevent these injuries, only let qualified team members or professionals make any serious repairs on equipment. 

Construction and Installation

 

As with most jobs in construction, there are a great number of dangerous situations that can cause fatalities and injuries. When your team is working on a construction or installation project, that’s when they need to rely on their safety training to ensure that they are not harmed. We suggest regular training to ensure that your entire team understands what it takes to stay safe. 

Hazardous Workplace Situations from Logging Equipment

 

The logging industry is notoriously dangerous, but like all workplace fatalities and injuries, there are steps to preventing these dangerous situations. Data indicates that 59% of all logging-related injuries occurred when workers were struck by falling objects or were caught in between objects. It is crucial for workers to examine their surroundings at all times. 

 

No matter how you choose to keep your employees safe, STC is here to help you make safety simple. We are dedicated to providing Managed Safety Services, Safety Consulting Services and Instructor-Led Training to keep all of your employees safe on the job. Want to learn more about the importance of creating a strong safety culture? Check out our blog today!

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Prepare Your Employees for Warmer Weather with These Construction Safety Tips

At STC, we believe that the right education and training can help preserve human life in the workplace. Warmer weather is finally here but with the new season comes a new set of safety guidelines employees should follow for their own protection. Here are all of the construction safety tips you need to prepare your employees for warmer weather and summer safety:

Stay Prepared for Summer Safety

Summer is one of the best seasons for construction, but one of the hardest seasons for construction workers. Staying prepared for summer weather can protect your employees from severe injuries, illnesses and even death. Help your employees protect themselves from extreme heat by ensuring they are staying hydrated and wearing light, breathable clothing.

Choose Work Assignments Carefully

As a responsible employer of construction workers, there are quite a few things you can do to help prevent serious heat exhaustion in your employees. One of the best ways to ensure employees are protected is assigning the hardest work for the coolest parts of the day. This way, workers will be able to cool down after heavy work while it is still cold enough for them to do so.

When it is too hot outside, you should take the time to ensure that employees are taking regular breaks to rehydrate and cool down their bodies. If employees are not guaranteed regular breaks during peak heat hours in the summer, they could potentially overheat their bodies. Illnesses like heat exhaustion and heat stroke can lead to serious injuries, illnesses and even cause fatalities.

Teach Employees Construction Safety Tips

All of your employees should be trained regularly with seasonal weather safety tips. Whether it’s rain, snow, heat or cold, employees should understand how to protect themselves against the elements in which they will be working. We recommend a quarterly instructor-led training session from professionals to help employees keep themselves and others safe on the job. 

No matter how you choose to teach your employees construction safety tips, STC is always here to help you make it simple. We offer a wide variety of managed safety services, instructor-led training and safety consulting services that will help build a safety culture around your business. Want to learn more construction safety tips? Check out our blog today!

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Our Guide to Fall Protection Training in Honor of National Ladder Safety Month

At STC, we are committed to preserving human life by keeping people educated on all of the safety precautions they need to protect themselves. Since it is National Ladder Safety Month, there is no better time to share some information on fall protection training from our safety experts. Here is everything you need to know about fall protection training from STC:

Fall Protection and Ladder Safety are Essential

Did you know that falls are the leading cause of death at worksites? The truth is that these kinds of fatalities and injuries are highly preventable when all of your employees are well trained in fall protection. In 2010 alone, there were 226 fatalities caused by falls in the construction industry. These deaths account for more than one-third of the fatalities for the entire year. That’s why it is so crucial to educate your employees on the importance of fall protection and prevention.

Fall Protection Starts with the Right Equipment

As with any job, keeping yourself safe on ladders will require you to plan ahead. When in the planning phase of your project, it is crucial to determine what parts of the job will require workers to stand on ladders or scaffolding. When you know how far your employees will need to climb, you can ensure that you have the appropriate ladders for them to stay safe on the job.

Provide Fall Protection Training to All Employees

Whether your employees are life-long veterans of the industry or just starting out, they will all need to have completed fall protection training before climbing the ladder. You never know when things will start to go wrong on the job site, so you should prepare every employee to handle those situations professionally. When they have the right information and equipment, there is a much higher chance that they will come out of those situations unharmed.

No matter how you choose to keep your employees safe, STC is here to help you make safety simple. We are dedicated to providing Managed Safety Services, Safety Consulting Services and Instructor-Led Training to keep all of your employees safe on the job. Want to learn more about the importance of creating a strong safety culture? Check out our blog today!

Photo Sourced from Getty Images: #1214992637

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STC’s COVID-19 Vaccine Guide for Your Workplace

As the COVID-19 vaccine slowly rolls out across the country, many people have the opportunity to make their work lives and personal lives much safer. We have worked hard to gather all of the details you need to ensure that you are able to keep your family, coworkers and clients safe through this time. Here’s everything you need to know about the COVID-19 vaccine from STC:

Who Can Get the COVID-19 Vaccine?

The vaccine is in short supply and only being given to those in the 1A or 1B groups. As of right now, the only people eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine are healthcare workers, people over the age of 65 and people 16+ with underlying health conditions. As more vaccines become available, many other groups will become eligible to receive their covid vaccine as well.

How Does the Vaccine Work?

Currently, there are two different vaccines available, both being reported to be 95% effective. These vaccines are not meant to prevent you, or those around you, from getting the virus. Essentially, the vaccine is meant to provoke an immune response, so that your body is better able to fend off the virus if you come into contact with someone who has already been infected.

Is the COVID-19 Vaccine Safe?

Yes, the vaccine has gone through all of the phases of testing and regulatory approvals it needed before entering the market. While this process was sped up due to the severity of the virus, this does not mean that important steps were missed along the way. The vaccines do not contain the live virus, meaning that you cannot contract or spread COVID-19 from the vaccine.

Where Can I Get the Vaccine?

It is expected that people will be able to receive vaccinations for free from their doctors, local pharmacies, hospitals and other medical professionals soon. If you are in groups 1A or 1B, you can go ahead and register for your first dose of the vaccine now, but your wait time will depend on local availability. Depending on which vaccine you receive, there may be a 21-28 day waiting period before you can receive your second, and final, dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

No matter how you choose to keep your workplace safe from COVID-19, it is crucial that every employee understands when and where they can receive their vaccine. STC is always here to help keep your workplace safe. Our managed safety services, onsite cna services and safety consulting services are designed to make safety simple. Want to learn more about STC? Check out our blog today!

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The Top Five Essential Elements for Creating a Strong Safety Culture

At STC, we believe that creating a strong safety culture is a crucial factor for the success of every business. When your safety precautions are backed by a culture of knowledge, you are able to increase efficiency and decrease accidents in the future. There is no better time to form your own safety culture than right now. Here are the top five elements for creating a stronger safety culture from STC:

1. Continually Updating Safety Precautions

As we have seen with the COVID-19 pandemic, safety precautions are something that can change quite frequently. While we learn more about specific safety topics, we will also continue to learn more about creating better precautions for safeguarding against them. That is why it is crucial to continually update your businesses safety precautions based on recommendations from OSHA, WHO, CDC and your safety partners at STC.

2. Internal Safety Training for All Employees

Since safety precautions are bound to change over time, so too will the necessary trainings that employees receive while on the job. These trainings can range from things like COVID-19 safety, new equipment safety and even common safety practices that should be re-taught regularly. There’s never a bad time to teach safety at the job site.

3. External Training from Your Partner in Safety

One of our primary goals when working with clients is to create a safety culture for their business. We teach employees and employers the importance of practicing proper safety precautions, while also helping you change the way your employees think and talk about safety. STC is dedicated to preserving human life by teaching that safety comes before all else on the job.

4. Bringing Employees Together to Form a Safety Culture

Creating a safety culture for your business starts from the ground up. While it is important for management to adhere to and teach proper safety precautions, the real change starts happening when employees are all equally motivated to practice safety. In every safety-positive work environment, the employees are as adamant about safety precautions as management.

5. Holding Each Other Accountable to Safety Standards

If every employee, from management to the lowest level workers, are equally as dedicated to safety, your company will see some major benefits. Accidents and incidents will lower due to each employee holding themselves and others accountable to practicing proper safety. Every job is different, so each employee must be accountable for learning and practicing safety.

No matter how you choose to improve the safety culture of your business, STC is here to help you make it simple. Our instructor-led trainings, managed safety services and safety consulting services are all aimed towards helping you build a strong culture around safety in your workplace. Want to learn more about building a better safety culture? Check out our blog today!

Photo Sourced from Getty Images: #1205863144

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Celebrating National Burn Awareness Week with Workplace Burn Prevention Tips

At STC, we are committed to keeping employees safe throughout all aspects of their careers. From February 7th through 13th, we are excited to celebrate National Burn Awareness Week by highlighting a variety of our favorite workplace burn prevention tips. You never want to learn this information afterward, so here’s everything you should know about burn prevention from STC:

Types of Workplace Burns

To kick off National Burn Awareness Week, it’s important to understand the different types of workplace burns and their sources. Each type of workplace burn serves a different type of potentially fatal danger. As you introduce new employees to your workplace or start work in a new location, it is crucial to identify where employees may encounter each type of burn.

  • Thermal Burns – Open flames, scalding liquids, hot surfaces and explosions.

  • Chemical Burns – Alkaloids, strong acids and other corrosive chemicals

  • Electrical Burns – Live wires, inattention to detail when working with electricity

  • Sun Exposure Burns – Prolonged exposure to harsh direct sunlight

Training is the First Step to Burn Prevention

OSHA states that it is the responsibility of the employer to provide a safe working environment. The first step to ensuring that this happens is training employees on the dangers of workplace burns. This training should cover an overview of the hazards an employee might face at the site, OSHA standards and hazard identification. In addition, burn prevention training should continue even after the employee has started at the site, with yearly refresher training to ensure ongoing safety.

Hazard Communications for National Burn Awareness Week

Training your employees is the first step to prevention, but even when they are knowledgeable, they should be reminded of the potential dangers on the job site. Each piece of potentially dangerous equipment or burn sources should be clearly labeled with posters, color-coded labels and signs. Employees should be trained on how to clearly identify each of the labels.

No matter how you choose to prepare your employees for burn prevention, STC is here to help guide you through every step. We offer a wide variety of managed safety services, from onsite safety staffing to safety consulting to help prepare your employees for every situation. Want to learn more about celebrating National Burn Awareness Week? Check out our blog today!

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The Dangers of Fatigue in the Workplace for Employers and Employees

The dangers of heat and falls are well documented and commonplace in the workplace, but did you know that fatigue can also play a major role in the safety of your employees? Fatigue-related incidents are more common than most people think. Here is everything you need to know about the dangers of fatigue in the workplace from the safety experts at STC:

Dangers of Fatigue in the Workplace

There are many factors that can contribute to an employee becoming fatigued, like daylight savings time and being overworked. Studies have shown that more than 43% of workers are sleep-deprived and that safety performance is decreased by tired employees. The employees most at risk of fatigue are those working night shifts, long shifts and/or irregular hours.

Dangers of Fatigue While Driving

The dangers of fatigue in the workplace can become even more serious when an employee is asked to operate a vehicle. Driving while fatigued has been shown to be nearly as dangerous as driving under the influence, with losing two hours of sleep having a similar effect as drinking three beers. Studies show that employees are three times more likely to crash their vehicle while fatigued. More than 5,000 people died from fatigue-related accidents in 2014 alone.

The Cost of Fatigue for Employers

While fatigue has a massive effect on the wellbeing of employees, it can also cost employers a large amount of money per year. Since productivity can be greatly affected by sleep deprivation, job performance decreases as employees become fatigued. It is estimated that fatigued workers’ decrease in productivity can cost employers up to $3,100 per employee annually.

No matter how you choose to care for the safety of your employees, STC is here to help guide you through every step. Our managed safety services are designed to help you increase productivity by making safety simple and creating a safety culture in your workplace. Want to learn more about the dangers of fatigue in the workplace? Check out our blog today!

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A Year in Review from STC CEO Scot Thomas

At STC, we believe that success is a team effort and we are truly grateful for all of the powerful players on our team that make success happen every day. 2020 was a difficult year for everyone, but each member of our team came together to unite under one goal, keeping our clients safe. Recently, we had the chance to sit down with our CEO, Scot Thomas, to discuss the difficulties faced in 2020 and our game plan for moving forward in the new year. Here are some of the most valuable insights from Scot:

What were some of the biggest wins STC accomplished in 2020?

“Without a doubt, our biggest win of 2020 was helping our clients navigate the uncertainties of COVID-19. Our clients had to balance the need to keep their jobs progressing while maintaining a safe and healthy worksite. STC came together as a team, all hands on deck, to find solutions that helped our clients be successful in their business. We allowed their people to go home safely to their families each day and the experience taught us how to be nimble, responsive and proactive problem solvers.”

What were some of the biggest challenges STC faced in 2020?

“We count ourselves very blessed for several reasons. Neither any of us at STC, nor our clients, have seen the likes of anything we experienced with Covid. Plenty of business went into defense mode and waited to see what would happen. At STC we went on the offense. We got more engaged with our clients. We planned and strategized more than ever before and we did our best to ensure our clients had what they needed from all of us. If we didn’t have the strength of our team, the outcome could have been very different for STC, our clients and their employees. I’m just so proud of the work they all did.”

What are the most notable accomplishments you have seen in the 10 years STC has been in business?

“We have truly become a unicorn farm here at STC! Most companies dream of hiring one unicorn (a mythical creature everyone wants to work with) but STC has managed to assemble a team of them over the last 10 years and is gaining a ton of traction. Everyone on our team is united around our 5 core values which have really helped us bring in the right talent.

  • Passionately Help Others Win

  • Make Great Plays

  • Be Genuinely Authentic

  • Earn a Seat at the Table

  • Enjoy the Journey

Our people have our values in their bones and bleed STC Orange.”

How did COVID-19 affect the way you approached safety culture in 2020, and how do you anticipate that changing in 2021?

“We have enjoyed helping the construction industry evolve in technology and create unique ways to reach their employees, partners and customers. We believe this newly developed skillset will be a continued practice in 2021 and another tool in the toolshed for our clients as they build their company cultures. What we also learned is that you can’t go about safety passively. You have to own it and drive it into your culture intentionally.”

Which safety trends will STC focus on in 2021?

“Engagement in middle management. STC has seen overwhelming support from owners, executives, and general employees and now we see some great opportunities to equip those individuals in setting up the jobs with proactive tools and strategies to eliminate risky conditions before they surface. A big component of this effort will be maximizing the project management software solutions being used by our clients to include safety plans. In addition, we will focus on improving the communication during critical phases between project manager and field employees.”

What are your goals for STC in 2021?

“We have some aggressive growth plans around new strategic partnerships and our portfolio growth. We are very excited to announce our launch of the Atlanta region and would like to thank all of our clients that are supporting our expansion effort.”

When you look at the team you’ve built at STC, what makes you the proudest?

“Watching our team become passionate about helping others is my greatest joy. It’s what we are known for… our people. We strive to be a company of “Givers”.”

Are there any vendors or partners that should be mentioned who make your work possible?

“A huge part of our success has been our professional partnerships with some of the best commercial insurance firms in our region. Thank you; Mullis Newby & Hurst, Swingle Collins & Associates, Boyd Shackleford, Barnett, and Dixon. Your Passion for your client’s safety and success is infectious!

We are also grateful for Tie Down Safety (Tie Down Engineering) and CRS Inc. (Commercial Roofing Supply), as these companies really bring our safety vision to life with their innovative safety equipment and solutions. True Partners!”

No matter how you choose to prepare your company for 2021, STC is always here to help you make safety simple. Our team is dedicated to each and every one of our clients and the safety of their employees. We have a wide range of managed safety services, from onsite safety training to safety consulting, to help our clients meet their safety goals. Want to learn more about partnering with STC? Check out our blog today!

Photo Sourced from STC

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