Roofing companies might have the best safety plans in place, but executing best practices in the field can run into issues if workers aren’t interested or willing to cooperate.

Building a culture that embraces safety is just as important as equipping workers with the proper gear. One company excelling in this area is American Eagle Roofing of Sacramento, Calif., where safety starts from the top down.

Ariel Giannone, chief operations officer of American Eagle Roofing, sat down with RC during the 2025 Western Roofing Expo to speak about how her company reinforces the necessity of safety with its workers.

“It has to start from the top,” Giannone said. “If you’re an owner or a manager or a foreman, it really has to start from the top and the owners have to start embodying that.”

American Eagle Roofing’s approach to safety helped it endure the COVID-19 pandemic not long after the business opened. Safety also has a personal connection for Giannone, who tragically lost her grandfather due to a workplace incident.

“Roofing is dangerous, and you watch these guys do crazy things all day long, and for me, with the experience with my grandpa is he woke up one day, went to work, he didn’t expect it,” he said. “Nobody does.”

From advice on fostering a safety culture to practical tips, be sure to watch the full video for more information.