search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube instagram Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • TOPICS
    • Cool Roofing
    • Event News
    • Latinos in Roofing
    • Low Slope
    • Legal
    • Metal
    • Project Profiles
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Roofing Safety
    • Steep Slope
    • Sustainable Roofing
    • Technology
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Best of Success
    • Contractor Profile
    • IRE Show
    • Roofing Contractor of the Year
    • Top 100
    • Young Guns
    • State of the Industry
    • Century Club
  • MULTIMEDIA
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Interactive Spotlights
    • Roofing Quizzes
    • IRE Videos
    • Webinars
    • Photo Galleries
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Products
    • Featured Products
  • COLUMNS
    • Editor's Note
    • Exit Planning
    • Legally Speaking
    • Safety Advice
    • Technical Details
    • Guest Column
  • EVENTS
    • International Roofing Expo
    • Webinars
    • Best of Success Conference
    • Industry Events
  • DIRECTORY
    • Associations
    • Distributors
    • Manufacturer/Supplier
    • Business Services
    • Get Listed
  • MORE
    • Roofing Contractor eNews
    • Techos y Más Advisory Board
    • RC Store
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • Market Research
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Company Spotlights
    • Classifieds
      • Auctions
      • Business For Sale
      • Business Opportunities
      • Equipment For Sale
      • Positions Available
      • Products
      • Safety
      • Software
      • Services
      • Training
    • Contact Us
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Advertise
      • Media Kit
      • Editorial Calendar
      • Contact
    • Archive Issues
  • SIGN UP!

Seminar Session: Kirk Herold

By Chris King
December 10, 2007
“Safety will never make you a million dollars, but it can save you a million,” said Kirk Herold as he opened his session titled “Safety: The Top Priority.”

Kirk Herold reviewed the proper use of personal fall protection equipment during his session on safety.


“Safety will never make you a million dollars, but it can save you a million,” said Kirk Herold as he opened his session titled “Safety: The Top Priority.”

Herold, vice president of Safety Compliance Co., Moreno Valley, Calif., specializes in helping construction companies comply with Cal-OSHA, Fed OSHA and EM 385 regulations in order to protect employees, reduce liability exposure and decrease accidents. He explored topics including fall protection, heat illness and silica exposure at Best of Success 2007.

Safety affects all phases of a business, Herold said, including sales, profitability and production. He pointed to 54 deaths from falls in California over the past year - 25 of them involving roofers - stating, “We still have a problem with the culture. We have to get past the idea that a working in a harness will slow you down. Get the idea across that wearing fall protection is a long-term investment. We’ve made great strides as an industry, but there are still major contractors out there not wearing fall protection equipment.”

Herold reviewed personal fall arrest systems and fall restraint systems, including the proper use and inspection of harnesses, lanyards, lifelines, snaphooks and anchor points. “The anchorage point should be strong enough to withstand the maximum fall-arrest force, with a minimum of 5,000 pounds per person attached to an anchor point,” he said. “That’s the equivalent of a small Toyota pickup truck you’re trying to hold.”

He also examined silica exposure in the roofing industry, noting that silicosis - a chronic lung disease caused by breathing in silica, a key component in cement - has no known cure. Cutting concrete tiles exposes workers to silica dust, so caution must be exercised. “Workers doing this type of work must use a respirator. Make sure they are wearing it correctly, store it properly, and know how to clean and inspect it,” he advised.

Proper education and training is the key to preventing injuries and accidents, maintained Herold, whether it involves fall protection, heat illness or silicosis. “You should never have a foreman’s meeting without discussing safety,” he said. “Create a safety culture. Have meetings, inspect jobsites, but live it. Safety, sales, profitability and production - it all has to be in the same sentence.”

“Changing a culture is a process,” he concluded. “It’s like making a U-turn with an ocean liner. It takes time.”

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Chris King is editor of Roofing Contractor. He can be reached at 248-244-6497.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Roofing Contractor Group Publisher Jill Bloom

    Physics, the Power of Authenticity and You

    In February's Publisher's Note, Jill Bloom describes a...
    Columns
    By: Jill Bloom
  • The Family Food Fare supermarket in Midland, Mich.

    ‘Rooftop Ninja’ Discovered Living on Roof, Inside Grocery Sign

    A bizarre tale out of Midland, Mich.: a woman dubbed the...
    Roofing News
    By: Bryan Gottlieb
  • A before and after heat measurement comparison

    How Hot is Too Hot in the Attic?

    If the ventilation is working, how hot should the attic...
    Steep Slope Roofing
    By: Paul Scelsi
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Manage My Account
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Sign Up for the eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Roofing Contractor audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Roofing Contractor or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • TAMKO Titan XL Shingles
    Sponsored byTAMKO®

    Built for Business: How Titan XT® Shingles Keep Proving Their Value

  • An overhead view of a residential block
    Sponsored byCBIZ CompuData

    From Spreadsheets to Strategy: How Roofing Companies Can Transform Financial Operations

  • Snow Guard Solutions for Metal Roofs by S-5!
    Sponsored byS-5!

    Safeguard Your Building: How Snow Guards Prevent Costly Roof & Property Damage

Popular Stories

The Home Depot is weighing a bid for GMS. The potential offer would pit the retail giant against QXO Inc.

UPDATE: Home Depot Pushes QXO Out of GMS Pursuit

Florida has become the focal point for construction-site raids, attracting national attention and altering labor dynamics throughout the industry.

Florida Emerges as the Epicenter of ICE Raids

Brad Jacobs, chairman and CEO of QXO, offers $5 billion to acquire GMS, a major distributor of gypsum and interior building products.

QXO Sets Its Sights on GMS in $5 Billion Offer

Roofing Contractor Webinar

Events

December 3, 2025

The Premier Roofing Conference: Best of Success

Join roofing professionals from across the nation at the 2025 Best of Success conference, the ultimate destination for roofing professionals seeking the latest industry insights and networking opportunities. Pick up strategies for critical challenges like workforce shortage with innovative solutions, explore the latest advancements in roofing technology and sustainable practices, and gain valuable insights from industry leaders on navigating the evolving roofing landscape.

View All Submit An Event

Related Articles

  • Seminar Session: Ken Kelly

    See More
  • Seminar Session: Bob Daly Jr.

    See More
  • Seminar Session: R. Craig Silvertooth

    See More

Events

View AllSubmit An Event
  • Duro-Last Seminar

    Duro-Last is a leader in vertical integration. Since the beginning, our founder, John R. Burt, strived to produce as many parts of a Duro-Last assembly in-house while also embracing the Edge-to-Edge & Deck-to-Sky™ approach. All of this allows Duro-Last to control quality from top to bottom.
View AllSubmit An Event

Related Directories

  • Spotlight Media 360

    - We offer World-Class SEO & Web Design Services - We specialize in Roofing, Electric, HVAC, and Plumbing Contractors - Contact us for a free strategy session!
  • FRSA - Florida Roofing & Sheet Metal Contractors Assn.

    FRSA is an association of roofing and sheet metal contractors and industry-related companies including manufacturers, suppliers and roofing consultants. The Association offers membership, code and technical support, educational seminars, the largest regional roofing expo and advertising opportunities in Florida Roofing Magazine. FRSA - Florida's Association for Roofing Professionals.
×

Be in the forefront of the roofing industry!

Join thousands of professionals today. Shouldn’t you know what they know?

JOIN NOW!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • X
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing