Top OSHA Violations Affecting Alabama Roofing Contractors

What Recent Inspection Data Really Shows

Recent OSHA inspection activity in Alabama provides a clear picture of where roofing contractors continue to face enforcement exposure. A review of December inspection records shows a consistent pattern: planned OSHA inspections of roofing contractors frequently result in partial findings and ongoing enforcement, rather than clean closeouts.

This data highlights not only what OSHA is inspecting but how compliance gaps persist even when inspections are scheduled in advance.

Planned Inspections Still Dominate Roofing Enforcement

The majority of roofing-related inspections in the dataset were classified as Planned rather than complaint-driven. Several Alabama roofing contractors operating under NAICS codes 238130 (Roofing Contractors) and 238160 (Roofing, Siding, and Sheet Metal) were inspected through planned enforcement programs.

Notably, many of these inspections were marked as “Partial” in scope rather than “Complete,” signaling that OSHA identified conditions requiring follow-up, documentation review, or corrective action.

Planned inspections are often misunderstood as low-risk. In reality, they are targeted, data-driven, and rarely limited to surface-level walkthroughs.

Partial Scope Findings Signal Underlying Compliance Gaps

A “Partial” inspection outcome typically means OSHA observed or identified:

• Conditions requiring additional evaluation

• Documentation deficiencies

• Hazards isolated to specific crews, tasks, or job phases

• Issues that could escalate into citations depending on follow-up findings

For roofing contractors, this often reflects inconsistent safety systems rather than one-time errors.

Fall Protection Remains the Primary Exposure Area

Across Alabama roofing inspections, fall protection continues to be the most common enforcement concern—particularly during planned inspections where OSHA expects systems to already be in place.

Typical fall-related issues include:

• Inadequate or improperly used personal fall arrest systems

• Lack of edge protection during active roofing work

• Missing or inconsistent anchor point verification

• Failure to enforce fall protection policies uniformly across crews

Because these hazards are visible and well-established under OSHA standards, they are frequently cited when discovered even during scheduled inspections.

Training and Employer Knowledge Are Closely Scrutinized

Planned inspections place greater emphasis on employer knowledge and training verification. OSHA routinely evaluates whether workers understand and consistently follow safety procedures, not just whether policies exist.

In Alabama roofing inspections, partial findings often align with:

• Missing or outdated training records

• Inconsistent onboarding practices for new workers

• Language or comprehension gaps in safety instruction

• Training conducted shortly before inspection without prior documentation

These findings frequently lead to additional requests for records or follow-up inspections.

Independent Contractors and Crew Structure Increase Risk

The inspection data also reflects a mix of LLCs and individually named operators common in roofing. OSHA closely examines whether workers classified as independent contractors are, in practice, functioning as employees.

Misclassification issues can expose roofing contractors to:

• Expanded inspection scope

• Additional citation categories

• Broader employer responsibility for training and PPE

Planned inspections give OSHA time to analyze these relationships carefully.

Why “Planned” Does Not Mean “Low Risk”

The Alabama inspection data shows a consistent truth: planned OSHA inspections are not courtesy visits. They are often used to:

• Verify compliance trends in high-risk industries

• Revisit known hazard categories like falls and ladders

• Evaluate systemic compliance rather than isolated incidents

Roofing contractors that rely on last-minute preparation frequently discover that OSHA’s review extends beyond what can be fixed quickly.

How Roofing Contractors Can Reduce Citation Exposure

The difference between a partial finding and a clean inspection outcome is rarely effort—it is structure.

Effective compliance programs include:

• Documented, site-specific fall protection plans

• Consistent training records tied to actual job tasks

• Regular internal audits before OSHA arrives

• Clear crew supervision and accountability

• Ongoing documentation, not inspection-day reconstruction

How Nikita’s Compliance Consulting Supports Alabama Roofers

Nikita’s Compliance Consulting works with roofing contractors across Alabama to prepare for planned inspections with real compliance systems, not surface-level fixes.

Support includes:

• Pre-inspection risk assessments

• Fall protection program review

• Training documentation alignment

• Inspection readiness verification

• Post-inspection corrective action planning

The goal is simple: reduce citations, avoid repeat findings, and stabilize compliance before OSHA escalates enforcement.

Final Insight

The inspection data is clear planned OSHA inspections still uncover violations when compliance is inconsistent or incomplete. Roofing contractors who treat inspections as events rather than systems remain exposed.

Those who invest in structured, ongoing compliance are far better positioned when OSHA shows up planned or not.