Construction Injury
Scaffold Injuries & New York's "Scaffold Law"
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has estimated that 65% of the construction industry regularly works on scaffolds, so it is not surprising that some of the common accidents at construction sites involve scaffolds or other types of lifts, hoists, ladders or horizontal supports. If you have been injured in a scaffold accident, a personal injury attorney can help. Contact an experienced attorney in your area today to discuss your injuries and learn more about your rights.
Scaffold accident injuries can result from a number of different factors including:
- Falls from the scaffold surface
- Improper installation of the scaffolding
- Defective design of scaffold components
- Failing to use proper protective equipment like harnesses and safety ropes when on a scaffold
- The planking or support of the scaffold giving way
- Construction components or tools falling from the scaffold onto workers below
OSHA Scaffold Regulations
OSHA sets forth stringent safety regulations for the proper and safe use of scaffolding equipment. It requires that every individual on the work site - including employers, supervisors, workers, contractors and subcontractors - comply with the relevant regulations concerning construction, inspection and use of the scaffold. OSHA specifically has regulations dealing with design and construction of scaffolds as well as a protocol for regular inspection of the equipment.
In accordance with the inspection protocol, a competent person is required to inspect the scaffold for any visible defects before work begins on each and every shift where it will be used. Additionally, protective equipment like body belts, harnesses, droplines, trolley lines, lanyards and points of anchorage also must be inspected prior to beginning work.
OSHA also sets requirements regarding the type of equipment, capacities, construction methods and uses for scaffolding. For example, OSHA mandates that every scaffold (and individual scaffold component) be able to support not only its own weight, but at least four times the maximum load capacity without failing. On suspended scaffolds, each suspension rope must be able to support a minimum of six times the maximum load capacity without failing.
New York Labor Law Section 240 – Scaffolding Law
New York Labor Law Section 240, which governs the use of scaffolding in building construction, demolition and repair, provides for the proper installation, maintenance and inspection of scaffolding to protect those working upon them. The law applies not only to scaffolds but also to “hoists, stays, ladders, slings, hangers, blocks, pulleys, braces, irons, ropers and other devices.” Similar to the federal OSHA regulations, Section 240 also requires that scaffolding is able to support four times the maximum load capacity without failing. New York law also calls for any scaffolding more than 20 feet off the ground to have a safety rail and to be fastened in such a way to prevent it from swaying away from a building.
Importantly, Section 240 imposes liability on contractors, owners and their agents for the proper erection of scaffolding. It also provides exceptions for professional engineers, architects and landscape engineers who are not specifically directing or controlling the on-site work. New York courts have interpreted this statute to mean that the responsibility for providing a safe jobsite ultimately lies with the owner and contractors, not with the workers themselves. In addition, some decisions even go so far as to state that negligence of a worker may not bar liability on the part of the owner and/or contractor in charge of the work site, so long as the worker’s actions were not the only cause of the injuries.
Contact an Attorney Today
If you have suffered an injury due to a construction site scaffold, you may be entitled to recovery in addition to worker’s compensation benefits. Schedule a consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney today to learn more about your legal options.
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