In New Jersey and elsewhere, construction-related scaffolding accidents are fairly common. As this is a known issue, companies are supposed to make sure scaffolding structures are safe for their employees to use by following the building guidelines set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Unfortunately, this does not always happen, and accidents occur. When they do, injured employees may file workers’ compensation claims in order to have their medical care and certain financial losses covered.
According to OSHA, over 2 million construction workers in the United States use scaffolding during their work day. On a yearly basis, approximately 4,500 individuals are injured and 60 people are killed in scaffolding-related work accidents. These accidents tend to occur due to:
- Poor planking position and/or materials
- Poor support
- Falling objects
- Employees slipping
The vast majority of scaffolding accidents are preventable. Employers simply have to make sure that these structures are made from solid materials and that they provide good support. If a scaffolding structure is poorly made or in need of repair, employers are to make sure that the appropriate fixes are made as soon as possible.
Despite OSHA regulations, scaffolding-related accidents that result in injury or death still happen far more often than they should. Injured employees or — in the event of fatality — their surviving family members may try to access workers’ compensation benefits to help cover their losses. Achieving full benefits is not always an easy task. An experienced work comp attorney can assist New Jersey residents fight for full coverage.
Source: osha.gov, “Safety and Health Topics: Scaffolding“, Accessed on July 5, 2017