Accidents Involving Scaffolding

Scaffolding is on site at just about every construction site you can see. The construction industry is alive and well in Florida, with buildings going up all over the place. That’s great for many reasons, but it also raises the number of construction site accidents.  Sadly, scaffolding is the site of far too many such incidents.  If you or a loved one has suffered a scaffolding accident that has resulted in serious consequences, an experienced personal injury attorney may bring you needed relief.

What is a Scaffold? 

Elevated work platforms that give workers the opportunity to work in a particular area for a limited amount of time, scaffolds are just temporary structures. The three main types of scaffolding include:

• Suspended scaffolds are hung from above with cables.
• Supported scaffolds are platforms supported by legs or frames from below;
• Aerial and scissor lifts are actual machinery that raises workers in a bucket or platform.

Who Uses Scaffolds? 

Well over two million individuals– roughly two-thirds of construction workers——perform their duties on or around scaffolding throughout the country. There are three categories of constructions workers who commonly use scaffolds:

• The people who design them;
• Those who erect and/or dismantle them;
• The workers who do their jobs on them.

Common Accidents Involving Scaffolding 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), thousands of scaffolding accidents every year result in as many as 60 deaths and over 4,000 injuries every single year.  The result, in addition to the physical and emotional toll on employees and their families, is almost a billion dollars in lost workdays. The types of accidents involving scaffolding that occur most often include:

• Falls;
• Collapsing scaffolds;
• Falling objects striking those below scaffolding;
• Electrocution.

Avoiding Common Accidents 

While no set of regulations or precautions can eradicate all accidents, we know that when companies enforce basic safety precautions, the number of safety issues are quickly reduced.  Along with proper training for all employees–provided in the language workers understand–scaffolding dangers can be mitigated when companies adhere to common sense safety protocols:

• Requiring that adequate harnesses are provided for anyone above ground level, in addition to having adequate toe-boards, hole covers, and guardrails, can significantly reduce falls;
• Building scaffolds to exacting standards and refraining from overloading them will reduce the incidents of collapses;
• Designing protocols for the handling of tools, debris, and work materials can reduce the number of objects that fall from scaffolds, and safety nets below scaffolding can protect those below;
• Maintaining a safe distance from power lines can eliminate the chances of electrocution.

Following an Accident 

If you or a family member has incurred serious injuries or death as a result of an incident involving scaffolding, you may be staggered by the financial impact of the incident.  Workers’ Compensation provides only a fraction of the earnings previously received, but your bills keep coming in.  In the event the accident was the result of negligence on the part of the construction company, you may be eligible to receive compensation from them to address medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.  You focus on healing:  let the knowledgeable Kissimmee personal injury attorneys at Salazar & Kelly Law Group take care of the rest.