With all of the construction occurring here in Mississippi, I increasingly see buildings wrapped in scaffolding. Scaffolding is one of the cheapest and easiest tools construction workers can use to access elevated projects. While I increasingly see workers using restraints and other safety tools, I also know that working on scaffolding is incredibly dangerous work that all too frequently results in injuries.
If you have sustained an injury in as a result of working on scaffolding, you must find experienced counsel to help you attain your fair share of compensation for your loss of income and injury. Barrett Law has the experience to help you if you have been injured. Contact us now at (800) 707-9577.
Scaffolding Safety Information
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 65% of the 2.3 million construction workers in the United States work on scaffolding. More than 4,500 injuries and some 60 deaths occur annually from scaffolding accidents. This costs businesses almost $100 million in lost wages and compensation.
Why is Scaffolding Dangerous?
Nearly all scaffolding accidents are preventable. Scaffolding is simply a platform elevated above the ground, located in close proximity to a building under construction, painting, or maintenance. Scaffolding is temporary and often moves as the work progresses. This mobility comes with a balancing of risks—the more movable the scaffolding, often the less stable it is. Similarly, scaffolding is often moved from worksite to worksite without proper maintenance or repairs; as a result, it becomes worn and unsafe over time. Finally, employers often do not provide employees with adequate training or safety gear; a lack of training, inadequate safety gear, and extreme heights can combine to cause severe injuries and death.
Types of Scaffolding
There are three primary types of scaffolding used in the construction industry:
Supported—this is the most common type of construction scaffolding. It is made of platforms, usually made of wooden boards, suspended within a frame of poles, pipes, or heavy beams. Some scaffolding is attached to the building being worked on, while other types are freestanding or even have wheels.
Suspended—this type of structure is less common and involves ropes or wires supporting a platform from above. This type of scaffolding is commonly used by window washers, bridge workers, and other workers who need to access extremely high buildings that are inaccessible through traditional ground-based supported scaffolding.
Machine—Scissor lifts, cherry pickers, and “man lifts” are frequently used for short-term projects like changing high lightbulbs or quickly accessing elevated areas of a building for a repair.
Overview of Scaffolding Safety
The employer must conduct regular safety checks of all scaffolding. If the scaffolding is unstable, it must be inspected. If the employer moves the scaffolding to a different location or job site, the process must be repeated.
Every single worker that uses the scaffolding at all must be trained in proper scaffolding use. For example, employees must be informed that spills must be cleaned up immediately. On scaffolding, even spilled water can be hazardous, as any wet surface or debris can result in a fall.
Each scaffold’s load limit should be marked so employees can quickly determine how much is allowed on the structure, and scaffolding should never be overloaded. Employees must be trained so that they understand what load limits mean and how they apply to scaffolding.
After a construction project’s conclusion, rigging, platforms, and other structural elements must be inspected for damage or loose parts. Scaffolding should be cleaned and repaired after each job.
If you have been injured in a scaffolding accident, one or more of these issues may have resulted in your injury. If your employer did not appropriately supervise, outfit, and maintain your worksite, you may be due significant compensation for your injuries.
What Should You Do If You or a Loved One Has Been Injured in a Scaffolding Accident?
If you were injured in a scaffolding accident, you might have a viable personal injury claim for any time you have been out of work, the costs of your treatment and rehabilitation, your pain and suffering, and other damages. Let experienced counsel take care of organizing your bills, attaining statements from expert witnesses, and dealing with the other parties’ attorneys. These are just a few of the critical, complex tasks that a personal injury attorney will handle for you while you concentrate on healing and getting back on your feet again.
Call Barrett Law now, an experienced Mississippi personal injury law firm, to represent you if you have suffered an injury due to a scaffolding accident. Contact us now at (800) 707-9577.
