The Midwest Roofing Contractors Association (MRCA) recently issued its top individual safety honor — the Naphis Mitchell-Reyes Excellent Safety Professional Award, to roofing industry veteran Brock Hamre. Though he’s not a roofing contractor, he’s had a hand in numerous installs in greater Minneapolis and helping roofers get home safely every night.  

As the safety and health resource professional for the Twin City Roofing Contractors Association, he oversees safety training, jobsite inspections, and representation at OSHA hearings for member companies. His responsibilities include OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 training, rigging and signaling qualifications, fall protection, forklift and RTFL training, aerial lift safety, confined space entry, NRCA CERTA certification, MRCA HAWT training, American Red Cross CPR/First Aid, and Focus Four training, among others.

The Naphis Mitchell-Reyes Excellent Safety Professional Award celebrates individuals who embody the passion and expertise in safety that Naphis exemplified while involved with the MRCA. The annual awards process recognizes a recipient who shares that same deep commitment and dedication to safety. 

Hamre has dedicated his career to roofing safety. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota in 1996 and went on to earn his master’s degree in industrial safety in 1998. He is an experienced Construction Safety and Health Professional, holding the Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST) certification.

In addition, he plays a key role in the Local 96 Apprenticeship program, providing essential safety training to apprentices throughout their three-year apprenticeship.

“One of the six letters of recommendation described him as someone who has ‘developed a unique relationship with our field workers, earning their trust and respect,’” said Ryan Petrick, of Illinois-based Ridgeworth Roofing Company. “It’s important to note that, while he isn’t the boss of the crews he oversees for safety, he has a remarkable ability to connect with them and gain their buy-in on the importance of safety.”

Hamre said he had no idea he was even nominated. 

“I really was surprised and when they started to read the bio for the winner… it was nice to hear about some of the things that the people who nominated me had written,” he said. “It was quite an honor to receive this award.”

Though fall protection and overall safety continue to challenge the roofing industry, efforts like those from the MRCA and other partners are working hard to train and gain buy-in from crews in all markets.  

“We believe Naphis would be proud of how this award has evolved and the impact it is making,” Petrick said. “This year, we had 12 outstanding nominees, all of whom have shown remarkable dedication to safety.”

Hamre considers it validation for hard work, but also a philosophy that safety has to come first – always.

“There are so many hazards in roofing work: Falls, chemicals, burns, ladders and more. It’s an occupation that requires us to understand the hazards that we face every day, and get the whole crew to buy-in and watch out for one another,” he said. “Some days are better than others, but I truly enjoy a day of jobsite inspections when everyone is working safely.”

Here are Hamre’s three keys to safety that can pay off in the long run:

• Safety is Inclusive: “I always make sure that the employees I work with have input on safety,” Hamre explained. “They are the ones doing the work, and I encourage their ideas when it comes to safety solutions or ways to do things better.”
• “Own” Your Own Safety: “Make it the roofer’s priority to go home safe every day. Getting safety buy-in from every employee is the key to prioritizing safety on the roof,” Hamre said.
• Stick with It: “Sometimes there is some frustration when you find hazards that should have been addressed, but you need to just keep working with the employees to get to the point where every job is 100% safe,” he said.