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"I was extremely disappointed and concerned to learn that some of our employees were found not to be wearing appropriate safety equipment while working on a roofing job last year, despite extensive training and stringent internal policies and procedures. We take the safety of our workers and work sites very seriously and are grateful that no one was injured as a result of this irresponsible behavior.

The workers' employment was terminated as a result of this incident.

To give context to the significance of this fine, it should be noted that WorkSafe BC administrative penalties are based on a percentage of the employer's overall payroll and are not based on the risk of the cited incident. We have about 150 employees and a few subcontractor crews, with some seasonal fluctuation, as opposed to our competitors in the industry who primarily utilize subcontractors. Therefore, our fines are larger than those resulting from some other companies' incidents which involved serious accidents or even fatalities.

I am very proud of the fact that there has not been one fatality or serious accident in the 22 years that I have owned the company. We have also had two independent reviews of our safety policies and procedures in the past 12-months. First, WorkSafe BC ordered one in June where we scored an astonishing 100%. The second was a thorough audit that was conducted by the B.C. Constructed Safety Alliance in September 2011 on which we scored 98.7%.

We have an excellent team who are all equally committed to providing a safe work environment for all our workers. Because we care about our employees' safety, we have rigorous health and safety policies and procedures in place. We provide very thorough training and orientation to all our employees, along with regular monitoring and reinforcement at all our job sites. Employees who do not follow our policies and procedures face immediate dismissal depending on the infraction.

As a result of the relevant incident, I have added several new components to our Safety Program including quarterly safety meetings chaired by me; an annual financial incentive program for crew leaders and field supervisors to reinforce full compliance with our program and improved job site supervision.

I would be pleased to discuss any of this further."

Ken Mayhew
Penfolds Roofing Inc.
T: 604.254.4663

Canadian Builders January - March 2012

Penfolds Roofing's hottest seller - the EcoRoof. This brilliant roofing material is made from worn-out tires. It is impervious to splits, dents, or cracks. The most important thing about this roofing material is that it is probably the only roof an owner will ever need to put on a building. Read more of the Canadian Builders Quarterly's interview with Ken Mayhew and learn more about his innovative company.

Global News, November 23, 2010

Builders launch 15th Annual Campaign

The Greater Vancouver Home Builders' Association (GVHBA) has launched its 15th annual Coats for Kids campaign in support of the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau, a group whose many initiatives help to provide a brighter Christmas for families in need.

In addition to the GVHBA office, 34 member companies at 47 locations in 13 municipalities will serve as coat drop-off sites from November 15 - 30.

"Last year the response to Coats for Kids was heartwarming as Lower Mainland residents donated more than 3,000 coats, scarves, gloves, blankets and new unwrapped toys and gifts for distribution to children, teenagers and adults," said GVHBA Chairman Todd Senft.

"I am delighted so many prominent members of our association are participating," said Senft.

Drop-off locations for Coats for Kids Campaign are available throughout the Lower Mainland, including at Vancouver's Penfolds Roofing office at 1262 Vernon Dr., Vancouver. Drop-off times are: Monday-Friday 7:30 am-5 pm; Saturday 9 am-2 pm. See the full list of locations (59KB PDF)

Global News coverage about the underground economy

Global News coverage about roofing and fire prevention - July 26, 2010

Lower Mainland used tire collection blitz to run April 21-22, 2008

VANCOUVER - Over 550 used tires will be collected and removed from Metro Vancouver regional homes and yards during an April 21-22, 2008, door-to-door blitz. Spearheaded by Vancouver's Penfolds Roofing, The Big Eco Tire Toss! campaign offers free, door-to-door used-tire pick-up in an effort to get used tires out of residential backyards, garages and basements.

Many Lower Mainland residents were stuck with used tires in January 2008 and after the Metro Vancouver regional district enacted a landfill ban on used passenger and truck vehicle tires. However, until the Tire Stewardship BC fully implements its Return to Retailer program that aims to have 400 B.C. retailers equipped to receive all used tires and hold them for collection by a recycler, the only other option for residents is to discard the tires illegally, or to haul their used tires to a City of Vancouver transfer station during operating hours.

"We fully support the landfill ban, but we also recognized the problem now faced by residents," says Penfolds Roofing president Ken Mayhew. "We decided to offer a solution and in the process educate people on the importance of tire recycling and the variety of items that can be built from the used rubber."

Items manufactured from used tire rubber include the base for artificial turf fields, fatigue mats for the dairy industry and innovative new products like Penfold's EcoRoof® Rubber Shakes. For every roof replaced with EcoRoof® Rubber Shakes, 450 old tires are removed from the landfill. Annually, that's about 20,000 tires diverted into a high-quality, lasting product.

"The Big Eco Tire Toss program has generated such a great response - and has been such an overwhelming success - we were forced to close off requests for used tire pick up a couple days early," says Mayhew. "We are now ready to begin our used tire collection blitz on April 21."

Penfold's Big Eco Tire Toss trailer will be travelling to residences between Lions Bay, White Rock and the Fraser Valley collecting used tires and delivering them to recycling centres for rendering and chipping. "Ultimately, some of this previous waste material we are collecting will be used in our EcoRoof® Rubber Shake product, says Mayhew. "Better recycled and reused than burnt and buried."

Mayhew says the Big Eco Tire Toss has been so popular and well received; he plans to make it an annual April event.

"We at Penfolds Roofing are pleased to do our part for the community - and for Mother Earth."

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Penfolds Roofing
Ken Mayhew
President
(604) 254-4663
Website: www.penfoldsroofing.com

Metro Vancouver's January 2008 landfill ban on passenger and truck vehicle tires has left many residents with used tires in their yards, garages.

VANCOUVER - Residents of the Metro Vancouver regional district are surprised to learn that their used vehicle tires are no longer being accepted as waste items at Vancouver landfills. To help out, and to make a difference in the community and on the environment, Penfolds Roofing is offering a free used tire collection service this April.

"Old tires are no longer being burned or buried at a landfill," says Penfolds Roofing president Ken Mayhew. "Instead, used tires are being recycled into a variety of items, ranging from the base for artificial turf fields to fatigue mats for the dairy industry to roofing tiles."

However, until the Tire Stewardship BC fully implements its Return to Retailer program that aims to have 400 B.C. retailers equipped to receive all used tires and hold them for collection by a recycler, the only other option for residents is to haul their used tires to a City of Vancouver transfer station during operating hours. Four tires can be dropped off, but they must be placed into one of several recycling bins.

Penfolds Roofing, which is promoting The Big Eco Tire Toss! used-tire pick up program across the Lower Mainland, is discovering residents with used tires have no idea on how to dispose of them safely and legally.

"We are finding that a lot of residents have used tires and most do not have the time to research a drop off location, drive to a transfer station and then wait in line," says Mayhew. "The fact we will arrive at their home and collect up to six used tires free of charge has generated a great response."

To participate in The Big Eco Tire Toss! - and have up to six used tires per residence collected free of charge - residents between Abbotsford, White Rock and Lion's Bay should visit www.penfoldsroofing.com and register. Participants can also register to win a new set of tires and a vehicle tune up by Minit-Tune & Brake Auto Centre.

The Big Eco Tire Toss event will culminate April 21-22 when Penfolds Roofing will travel through the Lower Mainland collecting hundreds of used tires.

"Many of these tires will eventually be chipped and recycled into innovative new products such as Penfold's EcoRoof® Rubber Shakes," says Mayhew. For every roof replaced with EcoRoof® Rubber Shakes, 450 old tires are removed from the landfill. Annually, that's about 20,000 tires diverted into a high quality, lasting product.

"We see a great opportunity in diverting former waste items back into the production stream. It benefits the community and the environment, says Mayhew. "So far, the response to The Big Eco Tire Toss! has been awesome."

For media interviews, please contact:
Ken Mayhew
President
Penfolds Roofing
Phone 604-254-4663