Small Roofing Companies Can Breathe Easier.
There’s been a lot of news in the world of rules and regulations lately. In our last article, we discussed how the recently signed One Big Beautiful Bill Act might impact the roofing industry. And not that we want to double-up on legislative content (there’s only so much of that you can read) … but we thought you’d want to know: OSHA just made it easier for small roofing companies to stay compliant—and save money.
If you’re running a small roofing company, you know how important job site safety is—not just for your crew’s well-being, but also for keeping OSHA off your back. Until now, one of the biggest challenges for small businesses has been the cost of staying compliant. The fines for safety violations can add up quickly, even if the issues are corrected right away. But that’s starting to change.
The U.S. Department of Labor just announced updates to OSHA’s Field Operations Manual, which guides how safety inspections and penalties are handled. The goal? To ease the burden on small businesses while still encouraging safe job sites. These updates include more generous penalty reductions for small employers and incentives for companies that quickly fix hazards when they’re discovered. Here’s what you need to know:
1. Expanded Penalty Reductions for Small Businesses.
In the past, OSHA offered a 70% penalty reduction to businesses with 10 or fewer employees. That helped some small crews but left out many growing companies.
With the new update, that same 70% reduction now applies to businesses with up to 25 employees. That means if you’ve got a few extra crew members on the books, you’ll still qualify for a major discount if a violation occurs.
For many roofing contractors, this is a big win. It recognizes that small businesses come in all shapes and sizes—and that even if you’re not a tiny operation, you shouldn’t be penalized like a national corporation.
2. Incentives for Fixing Hazards Right Away.
OSHA is also offering a 15% penalty reduction for employers who immediately correct a safety hazard once it’s identified. That means if you take action quickly—before OSHA has to chase you down—you’ll be rewarded with a lighter fine.
This is especially helpful for roofing companies, where hazards can pop up fast, and conditions can change daily. If you’ve got systems in place to identify and fix problems quickly, it’ll now pay off in more ways than one.
3. Clean Safety Record? Get a 20% Discount.
OSHA is also recognizing the value of a clean safety history. If your company has never been inspected by federal OSHA or an OSHA State Plan, or if you were inspected in the last five years and didn’t have any serious, willful, or failure-to-abate violations, you now qualify for a 20% penalty reduction if something does come up. It’s a reward for doing things right—and an incentive to keep up the good work.
These updates are already in effect. If your company is under inspection now and OSHA hasn’t issued penalties yet, the new rules apply. However, any fines that were issued before July 14, 2025, will still follow the old structure.
If you haven’t done a recent safety check or walkthrough of your job sites, now’s a good time to do it. You might also consider brushing up on your OSHA basics or investing in a short training session for your crew. A little effort up front can go a long way toward preventing fines—and now, even if you do get dinged, the penalties won’t hit as hard.
Remember, safety first. But a close second is surely getting the best quality products you can buy, like those from Marco. Visit www.MarcoIndustries.com learn more. To contact us directly, you can email or call 1-800-800-8590.