Harmful chemicals, extreme heights, heavy equipment, over-exposure, and much more are just a few threats that constructions workers face every single day. And because of these dangers, construction employees are injured frequently. In some cases, serious accidents occur, causing severe injury or even death. One of the most common construction accidents involves poorly maintained and defective scaffolding.
Construction Scaffolding Accidents
Scaffolding is a necessary tool in the construction industry. It is used to allow access to all interior and exterior areas of a structure, for painting, sealing, and other types of construction work. Because they are used as such great heights, accidents are often serious, if not fatal. In fact, it is estimated that more than half a million construction workers are injured each year as a result of faulty scaffolding. Although there are strict industry regulations for setting up scaffolding, many construction companies cut corners when it comes to proper scaffolding installation.
Missing parts, missing or loose guard rails, missing side brackets, plank failure, missing base plates, and standard slip and falls are the most common reasons why scaffolding accidents take place. These are the areas where the negligence can occur. It can also occur at the hands of the manufacturer if the product, in this case scaffolding, was delivered defective. It can also be a result of employee negligence if a few decide to not follow proper installation instructions.There are several cases of negligence that can occur when it comes to scaffolding accident, but in all cases, victims should be fairly compensated for their injuries. Just because you know your construction job comes with risks, doesn’t mean your employer is off the hook for any personal injuries you sustain on the clock. If you were recently injured at a construction site, contact a licensed construction accident lawyer for help navigating your company’s workers compensation system. They can ensure you receive full and fair compensation for your damages.