Playing It Safe Is Playing It Smart: Why the Roofer You Hire Means More than You Think

With the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, Congress created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to ensure safe working conditions for working men and women (www.osha.gov).  Every state is either governed by OSHA or the state-sponsored equivalent.  The standards set and enforce safety regulations that govern all aspects of roofing construction including the proper use of fall protection and personal protective equipment.
Falls are one of the leading causes of death and injuries in the construction industry. Therefore, roofers must not only follow the current laws and regulations governing fall protection, but also stay abreast of the many changes that occur to OSHA regulations each year.  A roofer that does not follow OSHA regulations can attract unwanted attention to a job site through OSHA and other government agency inspections. These inspections delay job progress and can severely disrupt business operations.  More importantly, if a roofer falls and gets injured on a job site, the owner could be sued and face thousands in defense costs and increased insurance premiums. Whether it be a roofer injured due to some noncompliance with safety harness standards, or a passerby injured because a worker failed to properly secure his materials, the owner can, and will, always face litigation. A single lawsuit could cost owner thousands of dollars in defense costs and increased insurance premiums.
By Trent Cotney for National Roofing Partners
Trenton H. Cotney
Florida Bar Certified Construction Lawyer
Trent Cotney, P.A. 
407 N. Howard Avenue
Suite 100
Tampa, FL 33606

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