Common Roofing Injuries

Roofing work is a common subset of construction work, and significant roofing work is done in South Florida on a regular basis. In Sunrise and throughout South Florida, roofers are at risk of some of the most serious construction accident injuries, as well as other types of workplace injuries and occupational diseases that are specific to the type of work they do. If a roofer is injured or killed on the job, how does the worker’s compensation claims process work? And when is it possible to file a lawsuit for compensation from roofing work injuries? Our South Florida workers’ compensation lawyers can provide you with the information you need.

Getting the Facts About Roofing Work Injuries in Florida 

What are roofers, and what is entailed in roofing work in the construction industry? According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), roofers are tasked with replacing, repairing, and installing roofs on various structures. Roofing work is dangerous for many different reasons, according to the BLS. Not only do roofers suffer serious injuries from falls from heights, but in addition, “roofing work is physically demanding because it involves climbing, bending, kneeling, and heavy lifting.” Moreover, year-round in Florida and particularly during the very hot summer months, roofers can be at risk of severe sunburns and heat exhaustion injuries.

Falls are the leading cause of serious injury and death in the construction industry, and roofers are at a particular high risk of a fall-related injury given that they work at least one story off the ground—and often more—as part of their regular or routine work duties. According to the Electronic Library of Construction Occupational Safety & Health (ELCOSH), roofers “have the fifth-highest work-related death rate in construction, with two times the average rate of fatal injuries in the construction industry more broadly. Falls account for the highest number of deaths for roofers, followed by electrocutions, transportation-related deaths, struck-by death, and heat exhaustion fatalities.

Seeking Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Florida for Roofing Injuries 

According to the International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IBEC), roofing injuries and fatalities are on the rise in the U.S., with a 15 percent increase in roofer deaths between 2018 and 2019. If you were injured while doing roofing work, you should be able to seek workers’ compensation benefits through the Florida workers’ compensation system. You will need to report the injury to your employer within 30 days from the date of the injury, and you will need to seek medical care from an approved provider.

Given that roofing results in a high rate of fatalities, it is important to know that surviving family members can also seek death benefits under Florida law. A surviving spouse can receive, for example, 50 percent of the average weekly wage of the deceased worker, and children may also be eligible for a percentage of the deceased’s average weekly wage.

Contact Our Sunrise Workers’ Compensation Lawyers 

If you were injured in a construction-related roofing accident, or if you lost a loved one in a roofing accident on the job, you should seek advice from a Sunrise workers’ compensation attorney about seeking financial compensation. Contact the Law Offices of David M. Benenfeld, P.A. to learn more about how we can assist you.

Resources:

bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/roofers.htm

elcosh.org/document/1428/d000491/causes-of-roofer-deaths.html