Yeah, that’s right. Our son, Jordan, was awarded the Hope Scholarship that paid for a good chunk of his college education.

Yeah, that’s right. Our son, Jordan, was awarded the Hope Scholarship that paid for a good chunk of his college education. It was worth a fortune to Jordan, his mother, and I. The Hope Scholarship is funded directly from proceeds gathered from the sale of the state-operated Georgia Lottery.

Headlines hardly ever reveal the whole story and sometimes run between the fine line between truth and fiction. I do not have the classical journalism-school training required to spin great headlines but always marvel at the good ones. Saw one on some emails this week and thought it worth a comment or two.

On June 16 what we have been calling the “new rules” for fall protection went into effect. Not really new rules but the elimination of some exceptions, most notably what is commonly referred to as the slide-guard rule.

Read more about it here:www.roofingcontractor.com/Articles/Article_Rotation/BNP_GUID_9-5-2006_A_10000000000001008724

While passing on some click-to’s, here is my two-cents’ worth on the issue as found in the JuneRoofing ContractorEditor’s Note:www.roofingcontractor.com/Articles/Editors_Note/BNP_GUID_9-5-2006_A_10000000000001060517.

The e-mails that began streaming through earlier this week had subject titles (like headlines) of “New Fall Protection Rules Bumped Back” or “OSHA gives more time.” But you read a little deeper into what OSHA says and nothing is really being “bumped back.” Contractors thinking they have another three-month breather on gearing up for full fall protection should keep a wary eye out for a visit from OSHA.

It is dangerous for me to step into so technical a topic, so will warn you now this is an OPINION BLOG. You really need to go to the source to find out what OSHA really has to say on this topic -www.osha.gov. My read on it was that an OSHA inspector will only issue a warning to you if he or she finds you out of compliance on fall protection on certain steep-slope roofs. This may or may not come into play if you are using a slide-guard method or no fall protection at all. That part was not made crystal clear.

After warning you and discussing it with you on a more informal basis, the OSHA inspector may come back the next day or next week to see if you have come into compliance. On this second visit you will not be treated to a warning, suggestions, or a good talking-to. You will be subject to a citation and a fine and whatever else OSHA is empowered to do to correct your behavior.

So the “new rule” is on and, in my opinion, there is no “breather” here. No need to wait any longer if you have not launched an acceptable fall protection scheme for your residential roofing projects. And sorry about jerking your chain with the headline, but I really do think we won the lottery with the Hope Scholarship - as well as every week that goes by and we don’t buy a ticket.