What Does Workers' Comp for Roofers Actually Cover?
You climb ladders. You walk on steep roofs. You carry tools and materials. These jobs can lead to injuries. Workers' comp is a type of insurance that helps when someone gets hurt at work. It pays for medical bills and lost time if the person was hurt doing their job. But it only helps if that person is covered by your policy.
If you are a one-person business, you probably don’t have employees. A ghost policy is for the owner only, with no employees and no subcontractors. It can prove to others that your business has insurance. But the policy does not cover you, the owner. You reject coverage for yourself when you buy one. And roof work is work at height: work above 15 feet is an automatic decline, so a ghost policy can't cover it.
What Kinds of Injuries Happen to Roofers?
Roofers face many risks. Common injuries include:
- Falling off a roof or ladder
- Slipping on wet or icy surfaces
- Back pain from lifting heavy materials
- Getting hit by tools or materials
These are the kinds of injuries that workers' comp helps with. But it only helps if the person is covered by your policy. A ghost policy covers no one: not you, the owner, and not anyone who works for you. That is one more reason a roofer needs regular workers' comp.
Who Might Ask You for Proof of Workers' Comp?
You might get asked to show proof of workers' comp. This usually comes in the form of a certificate of insurance. People who might ask include:
- General contractors who hire you
- Property owners or managers
- Your own clients
They want to make sure you have insurance in case someone gets hurt. A workers' comp policy proves you have coverage. For roof work, that has to be regular workers' comp, not a ghost policy. And remember — a ghost policy does not cover you, the owner.
What Changes If You Hire a Helper?
A ghost policy is for the owner only, with no employees and no subcontractors of any kind, even subs who carry their own insurance or hand you a certificate. If anyone else works for you — an employee, a subcontractor, a 1099 worker, day labor, or a family member who helps — you need regular workers' comp, not a ghost policy. In most states, workers' comp is required if you have employees. So if you hire someone, you need to cover them with regular workers' comp. Your insurance company will tell you the right class code for your work and state.
A helper can't be added to a ghost policy. If they get hurt on the job, a ghost policy will not help with their medical bills. You need regular workers' comp for them.
Why You Need to Know About Class Codes for Roofers
Class codes are a way to describe the kind of work you do. For roofers, the class code helps decide your price. Different class codes mean different kinds of work and different levels of risk. Your insurance company will tell you which class code fits your work and state.
Class codes vary by state. For example, California uses its own rating bureau called the WCIRB. So your class code in California might look different from your class code in Texas. Your insurance company will handle that for you.
How Does a Ghost Policy Work for a One-Person Business?
A ghost policy is a workers' comp policy for a business with no employees. It proves to others that your business has coverage. But it does not cover you, the owner. You reject coverage for yourself when you buy one. It is useful if you are asked for proof of insurance, like a certificate of insurance. But it does not pay your medical bills if you get hurt.
If you want coverage for yourself, a ghost policy is not the right policy. And even if you don’t need coverage for yourself, a ghost policy can't cover roof work. Work above 15 feet is an automatic decline, so a roofer needs regular workers' comp.
How Do You Get Workers' Comp for Roofing Work?
Getting workers' comp for roofing starts with the right kind of policy. A ghost policy is not available for roof work, so you need regular workers' comp. It is a different policy from the ghost policy this site sells. Your insurance provider will ask about your work and your state, and then give you a price.
Your state's workers' compensation office can also tell you what kind of insurance you need.
What If You Only Need a Certificate?
If you only need a certificate to show proof of coverage, you might think a ghost policy is enough. But it can't cover roof work. Work above 15 feet is an automatic decline, so a roofer needs regular workers' comp to get a certificate.
And if you ever start working with another person, regular workers' comp can cover them. A ghost policy never can.
