Workers’ Compensation Insurance for Florida Roofing Companies: Protecting Your Crew and Your Business

If you own a roofing company in Florida, workers’ compensation insurance is not optional, negotiable, or something you can afford to misunderstand.

Roofing is consistently ranked as one of the most dangerous jobs in the construction industry. Falls, heat exposure, equipment injuries, and transportation accidents happen every day. When an injury occurs, workers’ compensation insurance is what protects your employees, your company, and your personal assets from financial devastation.

This article will break down how workers’ compensation insurance works for Florida roofing companies, why Florida’s rules are different than most states, common mistakes roofers make, and how strong safety and risk management practices can directly lower your costs.

Whether you employ one roofer or fifty, understanding workers’ comp is critical to running a legitimate and sustainable roofing business in Florida.

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What Is Workers’ Compensation Insurance?

Workers’ compensation insurance pays medical bills, lost wages, and rehabilitation costs for employees who are injured or become ill due to their job.

In exchange for these guaranteed benefits, employees generally give up the right to sue their employer for workplace injuries. This is known as the “exclusive remedy” concept and it is one of the most important protections workers’ comp provides to business owners.

For roofing companies, workers’ comp commonly covers:

• Falls from roofs or ladders
• Heat exhaustion or heat stroke
• Cuts, burns, and crush injuries
• Back and joint injuries from lifting materials
• Injuries caused by tools or equipment
• Vehicle-related injuries while working

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Why Roofing Is Treated Differently in Florida

Florida law treats roofing companies differently than most other industries, and even differently than other construction trades.

One Employee Rule

In Florida, any roofing company with one or more employees must carry workers’ compensation insurance.

There is no exemption based on size, payroll, or revenue. If you have one worker on a roof and they are considered an employee, workers’ comp is required.

This is stricter than most industries in Florida, which may not require coverage until there are multiple employees.

Why the State Is So Strict

Florida’s roofing industry has a long history of severe injuries, fatalities, and insurance fraud. Because roofing injuries tend to be catastrophic and expensive, the state takes a zero-tolerance approach to coverage compliance.

If you are caught operating without workers’ compensation insurance, penalties can include:

• Stop-work orders
• Fines equal to twice the amount of unpaid premium
• Personal liability for medical bills and lost wages
• License suspension or revocation

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Employees vs Subcontractors: A Critical Distinction

One of the biggest mistakes roofing companies make is misclassifying workers.

Many roofers believe that calling someone a subcontractor means workers’ comp is not required. In Florida, that assumption is often wrong.

What the State Looks At

Florida regulators and insurance carriers look at the actual working relationship, not what you call it.

Factors that may indicate employee status include:

• You control how, when, and where the work is performed
• The worker uses your tools or equipment
• The worker works primarily or exclusively for your company
• You pay by the hour or day rather than by the job
• You provide training or supervision

If a worker is injured and reclassified as an employee after the fact, your company could be responsible for the claim even if you believed they were a subcontractor.

Subcontractor Workers’ Comp Requirements

If you use subcontractors, you should:

• Obtain a valid certificate of workers’ compensation insurance
• Verify the policy is active and in force
• Ensure coverage applies to roofing operations
• Keep certificates on file and updated

If a subcontractor does not carry workers’ comp, your policy may be forced to cover them at audit, or worse, during a claim.

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How Workers’ Compensation Benefits Work

Workers’ compensation provides several types of benefits.

Medical Benefits

Workers’ comp pays for all reasonable and necessary medical treatment related to the injury, including:

• Emergency care
• Hospitalization
• Surgery
• Physical therapy
• Prescription medications

There are no deductibles or copays for injured employees.

Lost Wage Benefits

If an employee cannot work due to an injury, workers’ comp typically pays a portion of their lost wages.

In Florida, wage replacement is generally:

• Approximately two-thirds of the employee’s average weekly wage
• Subject to state-mandated maximums

Disability and Rehabilitation

If an injury causes permanent impairment, workers’ comp may provide:

• Temporary disability benefits
• Permanent disability benefits
• Vocational rehabilitation services

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Why Workers’ Comp Is So Expensive for Roofers

Roofing has some of the highest workers’ compensation rates in the country.

High Injury Severity

Falls from roofs often result in serious injuries such as:

• Broken bones
• Spinal injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries

These claims are expensive and can remain open for years.

Heat Exposure in Florida

Florida roofers face heat risks that are less common in cooler states. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke claims are increasingly common and costly.

Claim Frequency

The combination of physical labor, working at heights, and weather exposure increases the frequency of claims.

Because of this, workers’ comp premiums for roofing companies can be a significant percentage of payroll.

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Understanding Your Experience Modification Rate

Your experience modification rate, often called your “mod,” plays a huge role in determining your workers’ comp premium.

What the Mod Is

Your mod compares your company’s claim history to other roofing companies of similar size.

• A mod of 1.00 is average
• Below 1.00 is better than average
• Above 1.00 is worse than average

How Claims Affect Your Mod

• Frequent small claims can hurt just as much as one large claim
• Severe injuries can impact your mod for multiple years
• Poor claims management can inflate costs

A higher mod directly increases your insurance premium and can disqualify you from certain jobs.

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Safety Programs That Actually Reduce Workers’ Comp Costs

Insurance carriers do not expect roofing to be risk-free. They do expect effort.

Roofing companies that invest in safety consistently outperform those that do not.

Fall Protection Training

Falls are the number one cause of roofing injuries.

Effective programs include:

• Harness and tie-off training
• Ladder safety education
• Roof access protocols
• Daily jobsite safety briefings

Heat Illness Prevention

In Florida, heat safety is essential.

Best practices include:

• Mandatory hydration breaks
• Shaded rest areas
• Adjusted schedules during extreme heat
• Training supervisors to recognize symptoms

Return-to-Work Programs

Bringing injured employees back to light duty can:

• Reduce claim costs
• Shorten claim duration
• Improve employee morale
• Lower your experience mod

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Audits: Where Many Roofers Get Burned

Workers’ compensation policies are audited annually.

If your payroll classifications are incorrect or subcontractors are not properly documented, you may receive a large additional premium bill.

Common audit issues include:

• Misclassified payroll
• Uninsured subcontractors
• Underreported payroll
• Incorrect job duties assigned to lower-risk classifications

Working with an agent who understands roofing audits can prevent unpleasant surprises.

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How Workers’ Comp Protects the Business Owner

Workers’ compensation is not just about protecting employees.

It also:

• Prevents most injury-related lawsuits
• Protects personal assets
• Keeps the business operating after an accident
• Preserves your license and reputation

Without proper coverage, a single injury could bankrupt a roofing company.

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Workers’ Comp and Your Ability to Grow

Many commercial clients and general contractors require proof of workers’ comp coverage before allowing you on site.

A strong workers’ comp program:

• Improves your credibility
• Expands your bidding opportunities
• Supports long-term growth

Trying to cut corners may save money today but can cost you everything tomorrow.

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Final Thoughts: Workers’ Comp Is a Business Necessity

Roofing is hard work. It is dangerous work. And it is work that deserves proper protection.

Workers’ compensation insurance ensures that when accidents happen, your employees are cared for and your business survives.

In Florida, the consequences of misunderstanding or ignoring workers’ comp are severe. The companies that succeed long term are the ones that take compliance, safety, and risk management seriously.