Workers Compensation for Salem Roofers

The good news is that here in Oregon employers are enjoying some of the lowest workers' compensation rates in the United States. Its the 13th lowest in the entire nation. Alaska and California had the highest rates out of all 50 states. Safety education is obviously improving too. Since 1991, Oregon's costs have declined nearly 62 percent, saving employers $16.4 billion. Businesses in Oregon pay 5.9% less than the national average. News we like to hear!

You would not believe the amount of money that owners of roofing companies pay in workers compensation. You would think that there would be riots. The fact that there is as many roofing companies as there are is beyond belief.

As a workers compensation attorney Salem Or I have seen many roofing companies try to skip on this sort of insurance. They have tried to skate by without having it. While this is not advisable by any means due to OSHA and 100% liability reasons you can certainly understand the appeal. A typical roofing company is paying out $30 in premiums per $100 in salary it pays out. Those amounts are crippling if you cannot pass them on.

I have a friend who owns a roofing company in Anchorage, he has four employees, and he pays $50,000 a year just in workers compensation. It is by far his biggest cost. Granted, OSHA has deemed the roofing industry as the fifth most dangerous due to fatality statistics, but wow!

All roofing contractors agree on is that the cost of workers' compensation insurance is high. I have not seen one who cannot talk your head off about it for hours. They consider it to be a cost of labor and look to reduce it in any way possible. Unfortunately, the roofing contractors also agreed that their agents historically have provided little in the way of written, strategic processes to assist them with lowering the cost of the insurance. Owners of these roofing companies who are paying these high prices to the insurance companies want underwriters to know more about their company and want more than cursory safety reviews.

Sounds fair. This is an issue that needs to be addressed.