For Jules Dufour Sr. and his company J.L. Dufour Roofing Services, nothing is more important than creating a workplace where employees are sent home safely to their families every day. "That's been our goal right from the start." says Dufour. "We've invested $30,000 in safety equipment and we try to be one of the leaders in that."
Being named one of the safest companies by NSCSA shows "we're doing something right." he says.
Roofing is inherently a dangerous job, where gravity is always working against you. However, Dufour takes all the necessary precautions by providing his staff with harnesses, staging, planks, and other gear.
"The one thing with safety is that you need teamwork - it's got to be the management, foreman and workers all pitching in. Everybody must carry their weight from the workers right up to management."
He emphasizes that all the equipment in the world can't protect workers if they don't use it properly of receive training.
Dufour's crew appreciates this emphasis on safety. The tight-knit crews have been with him for many years.
"It goes to show that they must like the atmosphere because they stay. We don't have much turnover." Along with safety, Dufour takes pride in the company's commitment to qualify product and service. J.L. Dufour Roofing uses only Canadian made shingles from IKO, with plants all across Canada, and can tackle even the most demanding jobs, including churches and apartment buildings with challenging roof slopes.
"Our vision has been the same as the day we started." says Dufour." "Our goal was to give good service and keep the customer happy so that they'd come back 25 years later, and they have."
J.L. Dufour Roofing is one of the longest running companies of its kind in HRM and boasts an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
In the coming years, Dufour says he plans to keep the business in the family by turning it over to his son - but he's not ready to throw in the towel just yet.
"I'm in it for the long haul. I'll always be around. I like what I do, and that's why I'm here."
