How many people actually wear a mask? - Certified SoftWash Roof Cleaning

Doug G · Junior Member

How many people actually wear a mask?

Lee Kendall · Junior Member

thats what gets me too Doug, all these video's of "professionals" not wearing respirators let alone eye wear or gloves?? I have my applicators license for pesticides and the main concern of that course was PPE (personal protective equipment). People will tell you you don't need gloves or long sleeves when spraying these chems. And that they have "not yet been linked to cancer, as a carcinogin" but you see what it does to a roof in less than a few min. The most worried about and absorb-able spots,if you will. Are the eyes, skin (palms of your hands and FEET. Guys who buy these cheap work shoes and are walking on roofs all day do not realize that the bottoms of your feet are for some reason the most susceptible to chems.

If your not wearing a mask.. Well... they will regret it one day... I don't leave without it.. I did one time and I bought a new one for the day once we got to the job.

Jeff Thompson · Junior Member

I wear a mask. Without it I found myself always coughing or clearing my throat after using SH.....like I was smoking again, and I quit 22 years ago.

Safety glasses also. Fitting popped off last year and got all over my head, face and eyes....ouch, and while on top of a ladder.

-- Edited by Jeff Thompson on Sunday 16th of February 2014 07:57:11 PM

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Most often when it is hot and the wind is still.

AC

Jason Mariano · SoftWash Systems Authorized Professional

My guys always where them, no questions asked.

Jeff Newman · SoftWash Systems Authorized Professional

I wear a mask, filter, and safety glasses all the time. A hat 90% of the time. The mask I found at Lowe's, and is charcoal lined. No fumes, no smell and cofortable.

V/R Jeff

Slava Borisevich · Freshmen Member

Danny Cronauer · SoftWash Systems Certified

Depends on the situation. If its a day when you can see the fumes and gases coming off the roof, I will put the mask on. Overcast days we apply the chemical and there is no issues.

John Aloisio · SoftWash Systems 5-Star Professional

Danny, how about the plunger?

Eric Seitz · Sophmore Member

I always wear one.

Eric Owen · SoftWash Systems Authorized Professional

I always ware a mask,hat, glasses, gloves, long pants, long sleeve, rubber boots.

The one and only time I didn't wear a mask is the day I almost passed out from the fumes and had to come off the roof fast to recover!!

Brandon Vaughn · SoftWash Systems Pro Staff

I think this could be a bigger topic - because masks can carry the stigma - "that stuff you spray is toxic", I think many contractors are hesitant to wear masks in front of customers. And perhaps are fearful to bring the fact up - that what we are spraying on your roof is formulated to kill a living organism and needs to be handled carefully.

I don't think it has to do with laziness or fear of what we work with - but it is fear of what customers will think.

Be up front and honest with your customers. They will trust you and recommend and refer you more. I now use our safety equipment (masks included) as part of the sales pitch.

Patrick Clark · Authorized Professional

Yes, Our guys are required to wear masks, House washing we don't because it's a low concentration. (Screen Enclosures Yes) Roof cleaning Our team is required to wear a mask, It's like Mold Remediation, When you spray a cleaner on to kill the mold it spores off. It's not only for the chemicals that evaporate off the roof but the mold, algae etc that you breath in. Brandon is right guy's don't want to scare the potential customer. But again we educate the customer and let them know how it spores off. it's outside and the wind is blowing but your right there on the roof and if you didn't have a mask on you would be breathing it in.

Doug G · Junior Member

Brandon Vaughn wrote:
I think this could be a bigger topic - because masks can carry the stigma - "that stuff you spray is toxic", I think many contractors are hesitant to wear masks in front of customers. And perhaps are fearful to bring the fact up - that what we are spraying on your roof is formulated to kill a living organism and needs to be handled carefully.
I don't think it has to do with laziness or fear of what we work with - but it is fear of what customers will think.
Be up front and honest with your customers. They will trust you and recommend and refer you more. I now use our safety equipment (masks included) as part of the sales pitch.

This is what I was really thinking. Everything I see; No one is wearing anything.
I actually was thinking, like you said, that I would use this in my sales pitch. Let the homeowner know what to expect.

I must be honest about what really had me baffled. I received my first delivery of SH....from a reputable company even.....yet the driver took no safety precautions at all. None. Zero. Zippo. Zilch.

As he was pumping, his line was even dripping in my driveway. He used the banjo fittings but only clasped one side on each fitting.
After watching him and watching all the videos and looking at all the pictures I just wondered if I was just being overly cautious.

I mean guys in shorts bother me from a purely professional standpoint but no mask, no gloves, no eye protection just was beyond my thinking.

Troy Layman · Lead Tech

Excellent twist there Brandon. And good tips from you too Pat. I hadn't thought of it from that angle. All the sudden we're not wearing protective gear from our chemicals so much as the stuff on people's roof.

A fair amount of it is about managing customer perceptions. Take a negative and turn it into a positive. A lightning strike took out a single phone on a phone system and the customer was upset thinking the phone was somehow at fault. He asked why that one phone was the only one damaged...I said because he was "lucky". All the sudden he realized he was only replacing a single phone for $125 versus all 8 phones and his phone system and voice mail system for a several thousand dollars. One of the things I order for work are conference call accounts and web meeting accounts. they are simple and shouldn't take more than a couple of days, but it usually takes about 3 weeks. People always complained when I said it would take them 3 weeks to get their account. So I changed my tactic and started telling people up front that AT&T has up to 45 days by contract to get the account information to us, but they usually have it out in 3 weeks. Since I started telling customers that, not a single one has complained about the 3 weeks. Manage how the customer perceives the item or issue that could be taken as a negative and see if you can find a way to make it a positive by presenting it differently. Scratch the wife's brand new car and tell her, and she'll be pissed. Tell her you wrecked the car, and then tell her no, I didn't wreck the car, but there is a little scratch on it and it tricks the brain to seeing the issue as not quite as bad by comparison. Phycology 101...

-- Edited by Troy Layman on Sunday 28th of September 2014 02:50:09 AM

-- Edited by Troy Layman on Sunday 28th of September 2014 01:23:29 PM

Garon Buczynski · Freshmen Member

A couple of weeks ago our local safety inspector arrived on a job to see our procedures etc. He walked away happy as we had a hazard ID on site, both my guys were harnessed, the applicator was wearing a full faced mask as required by our company. When I speak to clients I inform them that due to us working with product all the time we protect our staff, its about the long term protection of our staff. Health and Safety is getting ramped up in New Zealand at the moment. If our hoses cross a pathway they have to be in a covering so no one can trip over them as well a s signage on every job. We use this to our advantage, as there are heaps of contactors doing nothing. As AC says compliance costs

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Garon Buczynski wrote:
A couple of weeks ago our local safety inspector arrived on a job to see our procedures etc. He walked away happy as we had a hazard ID on site, both my guys were harnessed, the applicator was wearing a full faced mask as required by our company. When I speak to clients I inform them that due to us working with product all the time we protect our staff, its about the long term protection of our staff. Health and Safety is getting ramped up in New Zealand at the moment. If our hoses cross a pathway they have to be in a covering so no one can trip over them as well a s signage on every job. We use this to our advantage, as there are heaps of contactors doing nothing. As AC says compliance costs

Yes it does!

AC

Vic Irish · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

Doug Gore wrote:
Brandon Vaughn wrote:
I think this could be a bigger topic - because masks can carry the stigma - "that stuff you spray is toxic", I think many contractors are hesitant to wear masks in front of customers. And perhaps are fearful to bring the fact up - that what we are spraying on your roof is formulated to kill a living organism and needs to be handled carefully.
I don't think it has to do with laziness or fear of what we work with - but it is fear of what customers will think.
Be up front and honest with your customers. They will trust you and recommend and refer you more. I now use our safety equipment (masks included) as part of the sales pitch.

This is what I was really thinking. Everything I see; No one is wearing anything.
I actually was thinking, like you said, that I would use this in my sales pitch. Let the homeowner know what to expect.
I must be honest about what really had me baffled. I received my first delivery of SH....from a reputable company even.....yet the driver took no safety precautions at all. None. Zero. Zippo. Zilch.
As he was pumping, his line was even dripping in my driveway. He used the banjo fittings but only clasped one side on each fitting.
After watching him and watching all the videos and looking at all the pictures I just wondered if I was just being overly cautious.
I mean guys in shorts bother me from a purely professional standpoint but no mask, no gloves, no eye protection just was beyond my thinking.

Excellent thread, guys!

I have watched some videos of non SWS affiliated roof cleaners, and almost broke my jaw from it dropping so fast...

Seeing people walk backwards, unprotected with masks, lines and boots.

Glad to know when I do get up there, that I'm trained by the best.

No brag, just fact.

vic