Roofing Accident Injury Claims in Georgia & South Carolina
Roofing is consistently ranked among the most dangerous occupations in the United States. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that roofers experience one of the highest rates of fatal workplace injuries of any occupation, primarily due to falls from rooftops, ladders, and scaffolds. Beyond falls, roofers face exposure to extreme heat, burn injuries from hot tar and torches, electrocution from overhead power lines, and injuries from falling materials.
At Roden Law, our roofing accident attorneys represent injured roofers and their families throughout Georgia and South Carolina. We pursue both workers’ compensation claims and third-party lawsuits to maximize recovery for roofing accident victims.
Common Causes of Roofing Accidents
Roofing accidents result from a combination of inherent workplace hazards and preventable safety failures:
- Falls from roofs: The leading cause of roofing deaths — workers falling from roof edges, through skylights, or through weakened roof structures
- Ladder accidents: Falls from improperly set up or defective ladders while accessing rooftops
- Burns from hot materials: Contact with hot tar, asphalt, and torch-applied roofing materials
- Heat-related illness: Heat stroke and heat exhaustion from working in direct sun on hot roofing surfaces
- Electrocution: Contact with overhead power lines from ladders, metal flashing, or equipment
- Collapsing roof structures: Workers falling through deteriorated or structurally unsound roof decking
- Material handling injuries: Heavy roofing materials causing back injuries, crush injuries, and strains
OSHA Fall Protection Requirements for Roofing
OSHA’s fall protection standards (29 CFR 1926 Subpart M) require comprehensive fall protection for roofing workers:
- Low-slope roofs: Workers on low-slope roofs (4:12 pitch or less) more than 6 feet above ground must use guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems, or work within a warning line system combined with a safety monitor
- Steep-slope roofs: Workers on steep-slope roofs (greater than 4:12 pitch) more than 6 feet above ground must use guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems
- Hole covers: All holes in roof surfaces must be covered or guarded to prevent falls through
- Skylight protection: Skylights must be guarded or screened to prevent workers from falling through
Fall protection violations are consistently among OSHA’s most frequently cited standards, and roofing contractors are among the most commonly cited employers.
Injuries in Roofing Accidents
Falls from roofs cause devastating injuries including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and paralysis, multiple bone fractures, internal organ damage, and death. Roofers also suffer burn injuries from hot tar and torch operations, chronic respiratory conditions from asphalt fume inhalation, and heat-related illnesses that can be fatal if not treated promptly.
Pursuing a Roofing Accident Claim
Liable parties in roofing accident cases include the roofing contractor and employer, general contractors who controlled the job site, property owners who hired uninsured or unqualified roofers, manufacturers of defective roofing equipment and fall protection systems, and building owners who failed to disclose roof structural deficiencies. Workers’ compensation provides medical and wage benefits, while third-party claims allow recovery of pain and suffering and other full damages. Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33) allows recovery if less than 50% at fault. South Carolina allows recovery if less than 51%. Contact Roden Law for a free consultation — we fight for injured roofers across both states.