Big rolls, bigger risks: The truth about wide-width roofing rolls

By Jesse Sanchez.

Discover why switching to traditional-width roofing rolls can enhance safety, efficiency and long-term workforce well-being.

In this Read Listen Watch® (RLW), host Karen Edwards sat down with Jason Stanley, CEO of IB Roof Systems, to discuss the growing concerns surrounding wide-width roofing rolls. While these larger rolls are often marketed as labor-saving innovations, Jason dismantles that claim, revealing that they may introduce more risks than rewards.

Jason brings up safety issues that many in the industry may not have considered. “Roofing is dangerous. And we always think of falling over the outside of a building. But we don't always think about falling through a building,” he warns. The sheer weight of wide-width rolls, which can exceed 600 pounds, presents serious hazards. He describes scenarios where crews handling these massive rolls have led to roof collapses due to concentrated weight loads exceeding deck capacities.

Jason also references a two-year study conducted across 42 roofing projects, led by industry veteran Colin Murphy. The study, which was peer-reviewed and published in Interface Magazine in January 2024, found that traditional-width rolls are actually 23% faster to install than their wider counterparts. The data contradicts the widely accepted claim that fewer seams translate to significant labor savings.

Another major concern is the connection between material handling injuries and long-term health consequences. “CNA [Financial Corporation] is trending. I think we’re up 300-plus percent in the last decade with soft tissue injuries,” Jason shares. He highlights that these injuries often serve as a gateway to opioid use, leading to broader issues of addiction and even suicide within the construction industry. “You’re five times more likely to die from suicide than a jobsite accident and 15 times more likely to die from substance abuse.”

In terms of solutions, Jason argues that contractors don’t need to overhaul their entire approach — simply switching to half-width rolls can reduce the risks while maintaining efficiency. “You won’t see a negative impact on your labor or production,” he assures. “There’ll be a perception of change, but you won’t realize one.”

Read the transcript, Listen to the podcast or Watch the webinar to learn more about the industry’s shifting perspectives on safety, efficiency and the long-term well-being of its workforce!