Scaffolds are a common necessity for reaching high levels at New York and New Jersey construction sites. Any kind of construction work at tall heights carries a risk, but when workers’ safety depends on a temporary assembly of a scaffold, following safety rules and regulations is crucial.
Contracting companies and property owners must ensure that scaffolds are erected in a way that prevents collapses. They are also required to train and equip workers so that they are safe from falls. If corners are cut or safety devices are absent or faulty, workers can suffer serious injuries or death in scaffold falls or collapses. When this happens, those who were negligent with work-site safety should be held liable for workers’ losses due to injury.
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a fall from a construction site scaffold or a scaffolding collapse, you need to talk to a New York or New Jersey construction injury lawyer at The Cakani Law Firm today.
NY / NJ Construction Workers at Risk for Scaffold Falls
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently reported that more than 600 people die in construction site falls each year, and about 50 of these fatalities are in falls from scaffolds or staging. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) says another 4,500 or so suffer personal injuries in falls from scaffolds.
OSHA has established detailed standards for the safe erection and use of scaffolds. These regulations call for the presence of guardrails on all open sides and ends of platforms more than 10 feet above the ground or floor. Workers at these heights are to be provided “personal fall arrest systems,” which include harnesses with D-rings, snap hooks, lifelines, and anchorage points.
Rules for scaffolds state that “scaffolds shall not be loaded more than the working load for which they are intended” and that “tools, materials, and debris shall not be allowed to accumulate (on scaffolds) in quantities to cause a hazard.”
OSHA rules also provide that employees must be trained by a qualified person to recognize the hazards associated with the type of scaffold being used and how to control or minimize those hazards. The training must include fall hazards, falling object hazards, electrical hazards, proper use of the scaffold, and handling of materials.
When scaffolds collapse or workers fall from scaffolds that are not properly erected, it is often because safety rules and regulations were ignored, safety equipment was not provided or was faulty, or workers were not properly trained.
Falls from scaffolds can cause death or a variety of injuries, including but not limited to:
- Broken bones
- Deep cuts
- Internal bleeding
- Knee, ankle, and foot injuries
- Paralysis, including quadriplegia and paraplegia
- Spinal cord and back injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
Workers injured in falls from scaffolds invariably find that New York or New Jersey workers’ compensation benefits do not cover all of their expenses for medical treatment. Workers’ compensation does not compensate an injured worker for pain and suffering, either.
The NY / NJ construction accident attorneys of The Cakani Law Firm work with construction site experts, building engineers, and other investigators to determine the cause of scaffold collapse and fall injuries and who should be held accountable for them. Our attorneys then work with physicians, orthopedists, therapists, and hospitals to detail the recovery an injured worker has ahead of him or her and what effect that will have on the person’s earning ability.
Recovery after a fall from a scaffold is likely to be painful, costly, and lengthy. Many construction workers injured in falls from scaffolds never work for a living again.
The Cakani Law Firm scaffold fall accident attorney can help you recover compensation for your expenses and other losses if you have been hurt in a fall from a scaffold or a scaffolding collapse as part of your employment as a:
- Painter
- Mason
- Plasterer
- Drywall worker
- General laborer/helper
- Electrician
- Ironworker
- Carpenter
- Framer
- Roofer
- Window installer
- Plumber
- Demolition worker
- Welder
- Or another worker, including workers on mobile scaffolds, mobile cranes, and cherry pickers
