By Melanie Fry
Practicing good safety habits in construction often means being deliberate about everything you do — taking the proper time and precautions to make sure you get home safely each night. However, in a crisis, there’s no time for deliberation. Sometimes, safety heroes need to react and make quick decisions based on instincts and years of experience.
That was the case recently for long-time Dome Construction labor foreman Miguel Cardenas, when a fire broke out on the roof of a recently erected building. On a hot and windy day, the 47-year old father of three was alerted that materials left by another contractor had burst into flames. He quickly climbed onto the roof, as he says, “without thinking about anything else.” He and a nearby roofer found and used fire extinguishers, along with rocks and dirt to knock down the flames — before eventually finding a hose and fully extinguishing the fire.
Miguel’s quick thinking and action, said Dome superintendent Gianni Colombana Comombana, prevented what could have been a huge fire. Because of his act of heroism, along with his overall commitment to safety, we’re honored to name Miguel our eMOD Construction Safety Hero award winner for December.
I recently had a chance to meet with Miguel and talk with him about his job, his views on safety in construction, and how he reacted when the fire broke out on that hot, windy afternoon.
What is the best part of your job?
I like what I do. I enjoy it. The best part depends on what I need to do that day. If I demo one wall, and I do it correctly and safely, I’m happy. And when you work on a big job and you see the finished product, you think, “Wow, that looks very nice.” Those are happy moments.
What is your biggest professional accomplishment?
Well, I’m blessed that I’ve worked for 20 years in construction. That’s a big accomplishment, right? — and with only one company, Dome. And hopefully, one day, I will retire.
For people just getting started in construction, how do you convince them that safety is important?
Well, you have to be safe because that’s the number one thing. You want to go home, of course, with all your body parts. You want to make it home to your family. So for new workers, they should work hard but also take the time to do it safely. Believe me, that time pays off. Time pays off when you end up retiring with all your fingers. Retire healthy.
I heard that you recently put out a fire on the roof of a project. Can you tell us about what happened?
Well, that was something else. I was approached by a gentleman who said, “Hey, there’s a fire on the roof.” So, I climbed up to the roof to see what was going on. Sure enough, there was a fire. Luckily, there was a roofer working nearby, and I just yelled to him, “Hey, come and help me, dude. There’s a fire!” He grabbed a fire extinguisher that we had up there, and we started to pull it out. But the wind was blowing hard, so I had to find more fire extinguishers. I had to run back and forth to get more. Then we decided to kill the fire with some rocks and dirt we found. When you put out fire, you need to throw dirt on it — so you completely kill it. Otherwise, with that wind, it would keep coming back. Later, we were able to get a water hose and put some water on it.
What caused the fire?
It was a bunch of leftover items used by another contractor. They were putting some panels on the outside of the building. And they were using a (sticky sealant). And you need to use alcohol to wash your hands and your tools to clean them up. So, I think they piled everything in one corner. And it was hot. So I think the pile of stuff and the heat just started on fire.
Wow. How could that have been avoided?
They could have been more cautious to pick up their trash, wet their tools down with water, or put them in a bucket — or take everything away with them every day. You can’t expect that something is not going to catch fire when it’s so hot out there. Especially on the roof. It gets hot.
How do you feel when you think back to that day?
I don’t know. I just feel good we were able to save the building, especially because it was brand new.
What do you think the biggest industry challenge is when it comes to safety and construction?
Every job has challenges — it depends on what kind of work you’re doing. If you’re not really careful, you’ll probably end up six feet under.
Do you ever find it difficult to balance safety with the pressure to keep a job on schedule and on budget?
Yes, that’s always going to be an issue. Because we try to get everything done on time, get it done right, and at the same time be safe. It’s a challenge. Sometimes you just want to come in and do the work and get it done. But you have to do it safely. I tell people, “I know you need to get it done, but safety is the number one thing you need to do first.”
What does it mean to you to be honored as a ‘Safety Hero?’
It means I’m doing my job! I feel blessed to be honored.
Did you tell your family?
They’re so happy. My kids said, “Congratulations, Dad.” And I told them that safety is important because I want to come home healthy, right? I want to come home safe and see them.
Congratulations Miguel on being a true safety hero!
What is the eMOD Safety Hero Award?
Once a month, eMOD highlights someone working in the commercial construction industry who practices their craft with a safety-first approach. We recognize heroes who put safety ahead of productivity, who take action today to make our work safer tomorrow, who do the right thing rather than the most convenient. They promote accountability among team members, champion the latest safety practices, and encourage transparency about hazardous situations as they arise.
In addition to being featured on our blog, each winner receives a great prize package!
Nominate an eMOD Safety Hero Today
Melanie Fry is an onboarding specialist for eMOD.