When people perform their work duties while standing on scaffolding, every possible safety precaution must be taken in order to prevent serious injuries and fatalities. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets standards for scaffolding safety and these standards should be met or exceeded by construction companies in order to reduce the potential risk of loss.
Unfortunately, sometimes safety efforts fall short and employees experience significant damages. If a scaffolding accident happens, a New York workers’ compensation law firm can provide help to victims with getting the benefits and compensation they deserve.
The Consequences of Scaffolding Accidents
Scaffolding accidents happen far too frequently, and several recent accidents demonstrate the dangers associated with problem scaffolding. ABC 13 reported on one incident which was dramatic because the collapsing scaffolding was caught on video. The videotaped scaffolding incident occurred at a luxury apartment building that was under construction.
One witness indicated he heard something that sounded like an explosion and said he could see the scaffolding collapsing quickly. Six workers were pulled out of the rubble resulting from the accident and had to be transported to a hospital for treatment. The injuries they sustained were classified as significant, with witnesses indicating that at least one of the victims had sustained a head wound after one of the pipes hit him on the head.
The witnesses to the collapse described a dramatic scene when the scaffolding came down, with a thick cloud of dust appearing in the moments immediately following the collapse. There were around 200 workers onsite at the time of the incident, which is still under investigation. The goal of the investigation is to determine why the scaffolding went down. The video of the collapse could help pinpoint what went wrong and it demonstrates the frightening moments that the workers had to endure as they fell.
This scaffolding accident was not the only recent incident to occur, either. Reuters also reported on a recent incident involving scaffolding. In this incident, two window washers were doing work high above the streets of New York City when the scaffolding they were standing on broke. The workers ended up being rescued through a window on the 15th floor. Fortunately, in this case, neither worker was hurt because rescuers were able to pull them to safety through a window. Had the quick rescue not been effective, these workers would likely have lost their lives or sustained very serious and likely permanent injuries.
The two recent accidents, with the dramatic video and the last-minute rescue, bring new attention to the ongoing dangers that workers on scaffolding face. The video demonstrates the importance of strong safety protections by illustrating exactly how frightening a collapse can be. However, these incidents are among far-too-many scaffolding accidents that occur each year. If you or someone you love is hurt or killed in a scaffolding accident, it is very important to consider what options are available to obtain compensation. Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff & Wolff can provide help to victims of scaffolding accidents who have suffered harm.
