MRCA Announces Release of ‘New Employee Orientation’ in Spanish

By Morgan Arwood, MRCA.

This program is an essential tool when preparing new employees for the jobsite.

The Midwest Roofing Contractors Association (MRCA) Safety Committee, led by Bob Poutre of Roof Tech in Stillwater, MN, has committed to making sure safety is for everyone. In 2017, MRCA released the English version of the New Employee Orientation video. In 2018, we began the process of translating to Spanish and then shooting the video. The video was finally released in 2019. MRCA was lucky enough to have a great deal of help creating the video. Naphis Mitchell-Reyes of Empire Roofing handled the translation, and Sheyla Paz Hicks voiced the new video. 

MRCA focused on the use of industry specific terminology, geographic variations of words/terms/accents and maintaining the meaning of the English as translated to Spanish. The MRCA also took into account that many Spanish speakers use the Metric System but those working for roofing companies in the United States typically use the Imperial System to measure. The result was a practical video that balanced terms roofing professionals would be using on the job versus in everyday conversation.

Topics covered in the video include:

• Company Vehicles
• Guardrail Systems
• Extension Cords & Power Tools
• Distracted Driving
• Personal Fall Arrest Systems
• Fall and Trip Hazards
• Drug and Alcohol Policies
• Warning Lines
• Fire Hazards
• Hazard Communication
• Safety Monitors
• Lifting Hazards
• PPE
• Hazardous Chemicals
• Heat Stress
• Ladder Safety
• Working with HOT
• CERTA

The video launched to a phenomenal response from MRCA Members.  The pent-up demand for this video in the industry was evident.  Now MRCA Members have access to both the English and Spanish versions of this video as one of their member benefits. The MRCA continues the tradition of being The Contractors Advocate by providing timely, relevant products and services like these Safety Orientation Videos that dovetail well with the rest of the SHARP Plus Safety Program.

Learn more about the benefits of membership in MRCA.