Free Tool for Roofing Contractors
OSHA Penalty Calculator
Estimate what an OSHA violation could cost your roofing company. Updated with 2026 federal penalty rates.
A hazard that could cause death or serious physical harm and the employer knew or should have known about it.
Understanding OSHA Penalties for Roofers
Fall protection is the #1 most cited OSHA violation for 15 consecutive years, with 5,914 citations in 2025 alone. Roofing contractors face the highest risk because every job involves work at height.
2026 OSHA Penalty Rates
| Violation Type | Maximum Per Violation |
|---|---|
| Serious | $16,550 |
| Other-Than-Serious | $16,550 |
| Willful | $165,514 |
| Repeat | $165,514 |
| Failure to Abate | $16,550 per day |
Instance-by-Instance Citations (Since 2023)
Under OSHA's current enforcement policy, each worker exposed to a hazard can be cited as a separate violation. If 4 roofers are working without fall protection, that's 4 separate serious violations — up to $66,200 in fines from a single observation.
Top OSHA Violations for Roofing Contractors
- Fall Protection (29 CFR 1926.501) — No fall protection at 6+ feet
- Ladder Safety (29 CFR 1926.1053) — Improper ladder use/setup
- Scaffolding (29 CFR 1926.451) — Incomplete or defective scaffolds
- Fall Protection Training (29 CFR 1926.503) — Workers untrained
- Eye/Face Protection (29 CFR 1926.102) — Missing safety glasses
- Head Protection (29 CFR 1926.100) — No hard hats
How to Reduce Your Risk
Having a written, OSHA-compliant safety program demonstrates "good faith" and can reduce penalties by up to 25%. More importantly, it protects your workers, lowers your EMR, and helps you win bids that require safety submittals.
Get Your Complete Roofing Safety Program
6 OSHA-compliant documents — Fall Protection, HazCom, PPE, Emergency Action, Fire Prevention, and Ladder Safety — all customized for your company and project. Download in minutes.
Get Your Safety Bundle — $299