MIOSHA 29th Michigan Worker Death of 2017

We are so saddened to see that MIOSHA has recently posted the 29th Michigan Worker Death of 2017. That death being a 25-year-old roofer from Ludington, MI. “While installing roofing materials on a steep pitched residential roof, the roofer fell approximately 15 feet to the lower level.” He was not wearing fall protection at the time of the fall and later succumbed to his injuries on November 21st.

As commercial roofing installers and fall protection advocates, we cannot stress enough the importance of fall protection when working on elevated areas. Even the most experienced employee can have a minor trip-up that leads to a fall.

We offer facility evaluations to highlight areas in which your facility needs to have fall protection, followed by a proposal of custom solutions that fit any facilities needs; big or small. Please call us with any questions you may have!

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springfield smart anchor group

Springfield Inc. – “Put your Life on our Line”

Kingsley, Michigan. July 7, 2016.

Springfield Inc.™ has acquired 3 commercial buildings in Grand Traverse County, next door to its company Headquarters.  The buildings were acquired to house the rapidly expanding Springfield SmartAnchor division.  Contact Scott Pryde, Springfield SmartAnchor general manager for assistance with cost effective solutions to your fall prevention needs.  Scott works closely with Tim Korson, Head Engineer, for SmartAnchor  to assure your facility safety requirement are met and that your rooftop safety plan is compliant.  Our products are designed to meet your needs – both indoors and outdoors.  Jobsite training is also available for your employees.

certifications-work

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springfield no smoking policy

“BUTTS” on the Roof

Recently a rooftop fire consumed a restaurant in Grand Rapids Michigan that was caused by a roofing contractor smoking while handling combustible materials.

When you hire Springfield, the only “BUTTS” you will see on your industrial facility rooftop are those of the hardworking men and women of northern Michigan who are hustling around and getting things done for you, our valued clients.  We have a strict “no smoking” policy.  The lack of cigarette “butts” on your rooftop will enable our Springfield crews to cover your “ASS-ets” in the best, safest method possible.  The “butts” we bring to your rooftop are not flammable and will not damage your facility.

maintenance-and-repair

 

 

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Springfield Hannah Lay smart flat roof

Working and Living in Traverse City – Why Settle For Less?

We work hard and play hard in Traverse City.  When we are at work in our industrial buildings, we are often faced with choices regarding roof replacement at our facilities. These decisions require research of roofing products and contractor reputation.  While Springfield Inc. has earned the highest possible quality rating in the roofing industry including national recognition, it is also important for you to look at the Duro-Last product we install and compare it to other widely used products.  We hope this chart will help you gain information to help you with your roof replacement decisions.  As always, Springfield offers no cost professional evaluations for your industrial/commercial buildings.

Roofing Membrane Comparison

 

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Springfield Team

Building Trust with Clients in Michigan

Springfield Inc.™ started as a roofing company and over time “morphed” into a full service industrial contractor by expertly solving building envelope problems, building relationships and building your trust.  Here is what you can expect when you hire Springfield Inc.™

  • We show up when we say we will and do the work as promised.
  • We prepare our bid proposals with extra care to fully analyze the issues and concerns UPFRONT so there are no hidden up-charges and big scary expensive surprises for you, the customer.
  • Our clean up after job completion is stellar
  • Our warranties are the best in the industry.
  • We depend on your referrals and recommendations to further our services
  • Your job will be completed by homegrown local northern Michigan men and women.  We do not subcontract crews from out of state.
    Springfield-Group-photo

Please give us a chance to “dazzle” you with our industrial problem solving abilities.  We are available 24/7 to help!

 

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springfield walk pads

Michigan Rooftop Safety: “These boots are made for walking”.

When your employees are strolling, ambling, trudging, and trekking “Out on the roof” of your building, please know that Springfield can help them stay safe (and help you stay in OSHA compliance) with Duro-Last Walk Pads.  If you have employees who need to stride, hike, stomp, or sashay across your rooftop as part of their regular job duties you need our Walk Pads.

If you depend on HVAC subcontractors to dawdle, wander, prowl, and traipse across your roof to check on and repair air conditioner units or heating units you need our Walk pads. In fact, as a building owner, you have a legal responsibility to keep people on your rooftops safe from slips and falls.  Good news!!!  The Duro-Last walk pads, while relatively inexpensive and easy to install, reduce slip and fall accidents by 80%.  Saunter on over to the “contact us” portion of our website and give us the opportunity to “walk” you through our roof top safety plan which includes the famous Duro-Last Walk Pads.
Walk pad specs

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springfield handshake

Commercial Contractor Exceeding Expectations in Kingsley, Michigan

happy

One of our goals at Springfield is to EXCEED Customer’s expectations.  We understand that our customers are hardworking business people and that repairs to an industrial facility can be costly.  We are determined to provide the best possible solutions and the highest quality and at a reasonable cost.  Upon completion of our work, we ask our clients for feedback and LISTEN to what is said.

We generally ask:

  • Was our bid easy to understand?
  • Did we do what we promised to do in the bid proposal?
  • Did we show up when we said we would?
  • Were there any misunderstandings on the pricing/final invoice?
  • Were our crew members polite and mannerly?
  • Did the work we did solve your building issue?
  • What else can we do to help?
  • Who do you know that may be interested in our services?
  • Do you have any suggestions as to how our team could improve?
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Traverse Bay storm clouds taken by Springfield

Roofing in Michigan: Performing Re-Roof Jobs in Windy Conditions

Storm from Traverse City
Michigan Storms come on quick and Springfield is ready! This picture is of a storm in Traverse City Michigan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We love performing re-roof projects in Cadillac, Michigan.  The spring weather does bring some very strong WINDS to northern Michigan. Here are some items to consider for windy day roofing.

  • Double and triple check all trucks and trailers to make sure the load is securely fastened to the vehicle.
  • Tie off your ladder – – attach it to the Springfield Ladder Anchor to ensure the ladder doesn’t slip, slide, or kick out on your employees
  • Only load the rooftop with materials that are absolutely essential for that day’s work – – keep those items secure on the rooftop
  • Use caution when opening bunks of ISO – – whether on the ground or the rooftop, a single piece of ISO can quickly blow away.
  • Is there an area of the rooftop that is sheltered from the wind? Perhaps the rooftop materials can be stored there?

It is important to consider the project when doing a windy day risk assessment.  Most of all, weight down your skinny employees by putting some heavy rocks in their tool belts.

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traverse city business news

Springfield Inc. Makes The Business News

Michigan

Thank you Ross Boissoneau and TC Business News for capturing the essence of what we do!

View the article on the TCBN website

Roofing Company Keeps On Top Of Safety, Innovation

Springfield photo of leg and ladder to roof

Most roofing companies do fine work, but they just put on roofs. They don’t concentrate on insulation or have a safety division that works with clients to provide them with dependable and reliable access to roof areas. And they probably don’t receive patents for their solutions in either area.

Of course, most companies don’t have a CEO who lives off the grid, either.

Springfield in Kingsley focuses on innovative solutions for its clients, whether that means simply roofing or providing insulation that keeps refrigerant tubes from icing up or leaking.

“We do a lot of work for food and fruit companies,” explained CEO Terry Umlor. That included trying to find ways to prevent ice buildups in freezers, or refrigerant lines filled with ammonia from being contaminated by water from leaks.

“We weren’t trying to create a widget (to) patent, but to solve a problem,” he said. “We struggled to find anything (that would work).”  cropped ladder bracket

But a search for a solution proved, well, fruitless. So they created their own. It took two years of research and development for the company to develop a product that would prevent contamination and protect against ammonia vaporization inside the pipes and the subsequent degradation of the insulation. It began using the process in 2008, and in 2012 was granted a patent for it, which it dubbed SmartShield™ technology. Not only do company clients see a return on their investment due to savings on energy and maintenance costs, they no longer face the specter of replacing the insulation every few years.

That’s not the only area where the company stands apart. It recently received a second patent, this time for its SmartAnchor™ Fall Prevention System. The product safely secures an extension ladder to the roof of a building in order to keep it from slipping sideways along the roofline or slipping out from the wall at the ground level.

“The old way of working was to run and hide from OSHA (the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration),” said Nick Jacqmain, company president. “Terry made the decision to embrace safety, make it an everyday thing. It’s the right thing to do.”
Springfield workers work on roofs of all shapes, sizes, and pitches. “We’re confronted with many different issues,” said Umlor. “We want to ensure a safe work environment.”

Since the issue of worker safety can keep people up at night, it seems only right that that’s when the solution came to Umlor. “I woke up in the middle of the night and came up with the idea,” he said. The next day he presented it to the rest of his staff for discussion and modifications, and within a week they were using it.

That was two years ago. Six months after the initial design they began the patent application, and received the patent earlier this year.

The company also touts its use of rooftop natural daylight fixtures. The so-called “skylights on steroids” are tube fixtures which concentrate and evenly distribute sunlight from the roof into the industrial workspace. The natural light can cut energy bills in half by eliminating the need for artificial lights.

The skylights are made in the U.S. by Orion Energy Systems and are used by beverage company MillerCoors in its distribution facility in Milwaukee, resulting in savings of $127,000 a year on electric lighting.

All in a day’s work for the company, which has clients across Michigan as well as some nearby states. Jacqmain said it stems from Springfield’s focus on the entire scope of a client’s needs. “Even before entering the fall protection business we were always looking at the building envelope,” he said.

And yearticle april Joshs, Umlor and his wife Terri Jo (company CFO and human resources director) do indeed live off the grid. Their home is a mile from the road, and the cost to get hooked up was steep. Umlor had always been interested in alternative energy, and today their home is powered
by solar cells and wind turbines. He estimated that the cost of purchasing and installing all the energy sources they currently have would run around $30,000-40,000 today, though he built it bit by bit over the years. “We have a TV, microwave, washer and dryer,” he said. “We have just become more conscious of using energy.”

That kind of innovative thinking has obviously served his company well.

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