Construction Accidents Caused by a Defective Scaffolding

Construction sites are a hotbed for serious injuries – especially sites that have scaffolding erected on them. Most employees accept the risk of suffering injuries in construction site accidents. However, what happ

ens when these accidents occur due to third-party negligence? One common type of construction site accident involves defective or improperly stalled scaffolding. When these scaffolding are defective, it needlessly adds significant risk of injury for workers who rely on the use of the scaffolding.

General Requirements for Scaffolds

Serious and sometimes fatal accidents can occur on construction sites due to a defective scaffolding that fails to follow the scaffold regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Labor – Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

OSHA sets the general requirements for scaffolding under its “Guide to Scaffold Use in the Construction Industry” Section 1926.451. In order for a scaffold to be safely and properly erected on a construction site, it must meet each criteria set out in this section. When employers or project owners fail to meet these important guidelines, it can pose serious or even deadly harms to the construction workers who rely on the unsafe scaffolding.

Common Reasons for Scaffolding Collapse Accidents

Scaffolds are generally temporary structures built on construction sites for a specific purpose. These structures, which are built on the outside of a building, are usually made of wooden planks and metal poles. They are used by workers while building, repairing or cleaning the building. If scaffolding is not made in accordance with safety guidelines, it can put the individuals who work on them and bystanders at a significant risk of injury.

Below are the most common causes of scaffolding accidents:

• Poorly constructed scaffolding
• Scaffolding built with substandard or defective parts or materials
• Overloaded scaffolding platforms
• Poor or non-existent scaffolding maintenance
• Vehicle or equipment collisions with scaffolding support beams
• Noncompliance with OSHA scaffolding regulations

Scaffolding Accident Injury Statistics

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), scaffold-related accidents result in approximately 60 deaths and 4,500 injuries every year. Falls from scaffolds account for more than 25% of fatal falls from all working surfaces.

If you or a loved one has been injured in any type of scaffolding accident, you should immediately consult with an experienced Orange County construction accident attorney. Depending on the specific facts of your case, you may be entitled to compensation for:

• Past and future medical bills
• Lack of earning capacity
• Loss of wages
• Pain and suffering
• Out of pocket expenses caused by the accident

Call an Experienced Scaffold Accident Attorney Today!

Have you or someone you love been injured in a construction site accident that was caused by the negligent or reckless actions of another party? If so, you may be entitled to financial compensation. The construction accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Samer Habbas advocate for their clients’ full financial recovery through hard work and an aggressive approach. With multiple offices located in Irvine, Los Angeles, El Segundo, San Diego and Riverside, our personal injury lawyers represent accident victims across Southern California. For more information or to schedule a free consultation with an experienced construction site accident attorney, please call 888-848-5084.