In recent years there has been a great deal of debate over the importance of the Scaffold Safety Law. There are advocates on both sides, and arguments about money and insurance, about how to keep New York’s construction industry booming, and how to keep workers safe. Wading through all of the arguments can be overwhelming, which makes apathy toward the issue an easy response.

Ultimately, we believe in whatever keeps workers safe and holds employers responsible for safe worksite conditions.

The Scaffold Safety Law

To understand this issue fully, it helps to understand what the Scaffold Safety Law actually is. It is not a separate law in and of itself but is a part of New York’s Labor Law Section 240. This section stipulates that the owner or general contractor of a construction site has to provide safety equipment for workers. If they fail to provide things like secure scaffold parts and fall protection equipment, and someone is seriously injured or killed without it, then the owner or contractor can be held legally responsible for the accident.

So long as the equipment is provided and available for workers, the site owner or contractor is not considered responsible for any accident involving scaffolding and is not held liable. The owner is also not liable if the injured worker was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the accident, or if the worker chose not to use the safety equipment provided to him.

Some owners and contractors argue this places an undue burden upon them; that they should never be liable for these accidents, while workers’ advocates argue that Scaffold Safety Law has prevented countless injuries and deaths.

How Common are Construction Site Accidents?

Construction is one of the most dangerous industries for workers, with more than 150,000 construction site accidents reported each year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Construction workers who were injured or killed on the job may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits for themselves or their surviving family members.

New York State Scaffolding Laws

New York State’s Labor Law 240, enacted in 1885, is one of the oldest scaffolding laws in the country. It requires that all contractors and owners provide scaffolding and other safety devices to workers when they are erecting, demolishing, repairing, altering, painting, cleaning, or pointing a building or structure. Despite the existence of the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and its own regulations on scaffolding, the Law has remained unchanged for decades. In fact, similar laws have been dissolved in virtually every other state.

Workman’s Compensation

New York State’s workers’ compensation system is a no-fault insurance system, but getting the benefits you’re entitled to can be hard without help from an experienced lawyer. Here’s what you need to know about construction workers’ compensation claims in New York, including the challenges you might face and how our top-notch team of lawyers can help you.

Construction employers are legally required to purchase workers’ compensation coverage if they employ one or more people. Workers’ compensation insurance protects both the employer and the employee in the event of a workplace injury. Workplace injuries can be really expensive because victims need compensation for wages, medical bills, pain and suffering, and other fees. When an employer has workers’ compensation insurance, they are not responsible for these costs.

The insurance also protects the company from being sued by the workers.

Types of Scaffolding Accidents

Scaffolding accidents can happen in a variety of ways. One common type of accident is when the scaffolding collapses, either due to faulty construction or because it has been overloaded with materials. This can result in serious injuries or even death for those who are on the scaffolding at the time or below it.

Another type of scaffolding accident is when someone falls from the scaffolding. This can happen if the scaffolding is not properly secured, or if the worker slips or trips while on the scaffolding.

Other accidents that can occur while using scaffolding include being struck by a falling object, being electrocuted if the scaffolding comes into contact with power lines, and being injured by faulty equipment.

Scaffolding accidents are unfortunately all too common, and they can have devastating consequences. It is important to be aware of the risks involved in using scaffolding, and to take steps to avoid accidents.

Negligence and Liability

The heart of this issue comes down to negligence and liability, which are an important part of any civil claim. Negligence refers to actions or inactions that are contrary to what a reasonable person would do. Driving while wearing a blindfold, for example, is certainly NOT something a reasonable person would do, so it would be an act of negligence. If someone’s negligence directly causes or contributes to injury to a person or his property, the negligent party can be held liable for paying those damages.

The Scaffold Safety Law places liability on the owner or general contractor of a construction project unless they provide usable safety equipment on a worksite. Owners argue that this liability is unjust and excessive, while workers argue that they should not be responsible for buying or bringing things like scaffold rails and fall prevention equipment to a worksite.

Scaffold Safe Practices

Safe practices on and around scaffolds save workers’ lives and can help reduce costs for businesses by preventing accidents. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), these practices include things like:

  • The height of a scaffold should not exceed four times its base.
  • Scaffolds must be able to support their own weight plus four times the maximum load.
  • Platforms must be supported properly by legs, brackets, posts, and frames.
  • Suspension scaffolds must be supported by hardware and ropes that can withstand weights up to six times their maximum loads.
  • Platform access must be provided when the platform is more than two feet above an access point, such as via ladders or ramps.
  • Scaffolds must be erected, moved, dismantled, or altered only under the supervision of a competent person trained in scaffold safety.
  • Scaffolds must be inspected for defects routinely by a competent person, and defective parts must be replaced immediately.
  • A competent person with scaffold experience must train other workers on a site to recognize potential hazards and properly use scaffolds and safety equipment.
  • Whenever there is inclement weather, high winds, or storms, a competent person must determine if it is safe to use scaffolds at a job site.

It can be easy to assume that OSHA will keep workers safe and enforce proper regulations at New York worksites. In reality, however, OSHA inspectors only have the ability to inspect about one worksite per day each year. This is usually done after a serious accident or when a violation has already been reported. OSHA is understaffed and cannot be a constant presence to keep workers safe.

Regulations like the Scaffold Safety Law help keep site owners and contractors honest, because these laws are always in effect even when OSHA is not around. While we all want to imagine that construction companies have their workers’ best interests at heart, sometimes the best way to ensure they protect the people who work for them is to make them do so while protecting their wallets.

After a scaffolding accident, unfortunately, we at Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP, see construction companies and contractors first trying to protect their bottom line before their injured worker. We can help with that. As New York City scaffolding accident attorneys, we’ve handled many similar cases and represented hundreds of injured workers just like you. For a free consultation about your situation, please call us at (212) 986-7353 today.

 

This blog was updated from May 4th, 2018, to have the most current information for our readers.