Hey, moving to New York for your job as a construction worker? If yes, we guess you should be aware of working on a scaffold and all the law and safety regulations associated with it, including the accidents, injuries, and calling a NY construction accident lawyer. In today’s blog, we will get you covered with every detail. Let’s begin.
Scaffolding Safety Hazards Construction Workers Usually Experience
In recent years, the construction industry of New York City has evolved drastically with the emergence of more and more projects. As a result, the use of scaffolding has become the new norm since the workers need to work on it during building renovation, construction, or neighborhood developments.
But, do you know that working on scaffolds can actually be dangerous for construction workers? In fact, interacting with many New Yorkers here who work on construction projects has led us to the common safety hazards they face, such as:
Scaffold falls
Falling from scaffolds is nothing new in New York construction projects. Such accidents often happen due to improper guardrail installation and even lack of a safe means of access, such as a ladder, to scaffolds.
Debris hitting the scaffold-
In this city, many construction sites have witnessed accidents with construction workers due to getting hit by debris directly or the scaffold, resulting in a collapse or crash into the scaffolding.
Collapsed scaffold
Poorly designed scaffolds or overloaded ones always have the risk of collapse. Yet, the general contractors or the owner of the job site should always ensure that the scaffold shouldn’t be overloaded due to the number of workers and the weight of the materials.
Since falling from a scaffold can be devastating, the injuries can be severe, for example:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Shoulder and knee injuries
- Back and neck trauma
- Fractured or broken bones
- Skull fractures, cuts, or bruises
New York City and Scaffold Law
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), scaffolding of 10 feet or higher must have guardrails to ensure the safety of construction workers. At the same time, the worksites must adhere to federal regulations and OSHA administration. On the other hand, the project contractors should follow New York Labor Law 240, which states all the precautions must be taken during scaffolding installation when workers need to work at a certain height on the site. In short, the contractor will be liable if any accident happens to any construction worker from getting injured or falling from scaffolding.
Compensation If Suffering from a Scaffolding Injury
Here, in New York City, construction workers are offered compensation benefits in case of any accidents on-site. So, when coming here for a construction job, make sure you access the compensation benefits. It will allow you to claim reimbursement for any damage, ensuring financial relief to accommodate the medical costs for scaffold or other work construction site injury. You can bring this claim against anyone responsible for your scaffolding injuries due to negligence, like the contractor, coworker, or owner of the site.
Calling Construction Accident Lawyers for Scaffolding Injury
Now, when a third party, like the contractor, property owner, or coworker, is liable to compensate for your scaffolding injury but refuses to give the amount you deserve, it’s time to call a NY scaffolding injury accident lawyer or construction lawyer.
Need one? Here’s where we help. At Braude Injury Lawyers, we can find you the right lawyer for your case and ensure you receive the compensation for the construction injury you deserve.
Reach out to us today for a free consultation!