New York Scaffold Accident Lawyer Serving NYC and the Hudson Valley
Holding Construction Contractors Accountable for Personal Injuries
Construction workers face numerous hazards on the job, but falls from heights, such as falls from ladders and scaffolds, are the leading cause of fatal accidents on the worksite. Falls and other scaffolding accidents are largely preventable, and when they occur, the New York scaffold accident attorneys at Dupée & Monroe, P.C. hold contractors and property owners liable for their negligence in not providing the proper safety precautions.
Contractors and Owners are Absolutely Liable under New York Scaffold Law
New York Labor Law section 240(1) requires property owners and contractors to furnish or erect scaffolds when they are necessary to give proper protection to construction workers employed on the premises. Whenever any kind of gravity-related accident occurs due to an elevation differential, and the proper precautions were not taken, the owner or contractor may be absolutely liable for the injuries and damages caused under New York’s scaffold law.
In addition to New York labor law, the guidelines of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) often require fall protection or fall arrest systems for employees on scaffolds working ten feet or higher above a lower level. Sometimes, both a personal fall arrest system, such as a harness, as well as a guardrail must be in place. Also according to OSHA, employers must train employees who work on scaffolds, inspect scaffolds before each shift, and ensure that a competent person is in place to oversee the erection and dismantlement of scaffolds.
Scaffold accidents occur for a number of reasons, including:
- Fall arrest systems, guardrails and other fall protection is missing or inadequate
- Footings are uneven
- The scaffolding and rigging are not adequate to support the intended load
- Platforms are not fully decked or planked
- Contractor did not utilize guying, tying or bracing to restrain scaffold from tipping
- Workers were not properly trained on the hazards and safety procedures for scaffold work
- Periodic and episodic inspections did not take place
- The platform is cluttered with debris
- The platform or walkway is too narrow
- Counterweights are inadequate or missing
- Scaffold is covered with snow, ice or some other slippery substance
Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys for All Types of Scaffold Accidents
Scaffolds pose other hazards besides the danger of falling. Other leading injuries associated with scaffolds include being struck by scaffolding, getting caught in or between scaffolding, and electrocution from live wires, energized platforms and related risks. No matter what the cause, the scaffold accident attorneys at Dupée & Monroe, P.C. can help you recover for the injuries sustained in a New York scaffold accident.
