Millions of workers, particularly in the construction industry, must regularly work on scaffolds and ladders. Working with building materials and heavy equipment on high heights and limited space can be hard and dangerous, even deadly. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that annually, scaffolding accidents account for 60 deaths and 4,500 injuries nationwide.
Safeguarding the health and safety of at-risk workers from scaffolding and ladder accidents can help prevent deaths and catastrophic injuries attributed to falls.
Common Types and Causes of South Florida Scaffolding & Ladder Accidents
Scaffolding comes in a wide variety of forms, from suspended scaffolding and supported scaffolding to aerial scaffolding, among many others. While convenient and versatile, scaffolding can present serious risks to workers if proper safety measures are not followed. The most common causes associated with the different types of scaffolding and ladder accidents typically include the following:
- Falls From Scaffolding – Falls commonly happen when employees or other liable parties fail to provide workers with sufficient fall protection. For example, guardrails are standard requirements. For certain types of scaffolding, including suspended scaffolding, extra fall protection, like a body harness, must also be provided.
- Scaffold Collapse – Scaffolds are usually set up for temporary purposes. In some cases, constructing scaffolding is rushed, resulting in the collapse of the scaffold and worker injury or death.
- Scaffolds Tipping Over – Scaffolding must be constructed with mud sills and base plates beneath each leg to give sufficient support to workers. Otherwise, it can tip over and injure workers.
- Objects Falling From Scaffolding – All scaffolds that are higher than 10 feet must have toeboards. Additionally, workers below must always wear hard hats, and all materials and tools on scaffolds must always be secured.
- Electrocution Accidents – Scaffolds are huge metal structures that can easily attract electricity. That is why they must be built at least 10 feet away from active power lines.
Employers are required to train workers properly before working on scaffolds. Workers can face a broad range of hazards while working on unstable, improperly constructed, or defective scaffolds. If they are not sufficiently prepared to handle these hazards, life-altering accidents and injuries can easily occur. This is particularly true when erecting and dismantling scaffolds.
Furthermore, scaffolds must be routinely inspected and repaired as needed to ensure that workers can work safely. Specifically, a qualified professional must inspect the scaffolding before and after every shift.
Recovering Compensation After a South Florida Scaffolding or Ladder Accident
If you have sustained injuries in a scaffolding accident, there’s a good chance that you’ll qualify for
workers’ comp benefits through your employer. These benefits should pay for medical bills for your work-related injuries and other covered losses you incurred because of your injuries.
But if the scaffolding accident was caused by a third party, like the construction site owner or scaffolding equipment manufacturer, or designer, you may bring a third-party liability claim against the negligent third party to recoup financial compensation. Our South Florida scaffolding and ladder accident lawyer can review your legal rights and options under the state’s workers’ compensation and personal injury laws to figure out the best way to recover maximum compensation for all your damages.
Talk to Our South Florida Scaffolding Ladder Accident Lawyers Now
Scaffolding or ladder accidents can have life-changing repercussions not only for injured workers but also for their families. A fall or other types of scaffold accidents can result in spinal fractures, complex fractures, paralysis, and
brain injuries, among many others, as well as financial and emotional injuries.
If you were injured in a scaffolding accident, it’s crucial to learn your rights from an experienced South Florida scaffolding and ladder lawyer as soon as possible. Contact
Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Sosa to schedule a free consultation with our South Florida scaffolding and ladder accident lawyers by dialing 561-478-2500 or completing our
online email form.
