Who Could Be Liable for a Scaffolding Accident?
As everyone in the construction industry knows, scaffolding is an instrumental tool for most high-reaching or multi-level jobs. Although scaffolding is essential, it can also be extremely dangerous, especially if it isn’t constructed or utilized correctly. Despite the many standards and safety laws enforced by OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, scaffolding incidents continue to be one of the most common types of accidents in the construction industry. So, when these accidents occur, do we know who could be liable for the resulting damage?
When dealing with a scaffolding injury, the person responsible for ensuring the safety of the injured worker is typically responsible for any resulting damage. However, proving liability can be more complex if multiple parties are responsible for the worker’s safety, or if multiple parties were responsible for building or maintaining the scaffolding.
Scaffolding Facts & Statistics
According to OSHA, as many as 9,750 scaffold-related injuries occur each year. Data also tells us that, in 2009 alone, 54 people died in scaffold-related accidents in the construction industry. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics also tells us that 72% of workers injured in scaffold accidents were harmed because of planking issues, failed supports, or because the employee slipped or was struck by a falling object. This tells us that, in most cases, scaffolding accidents occur because of mistakes that could have been prevented if OSHA safety rules were observed.
If a site manager, property owner, contractor, or subcontractor fails to observe safety regulations, and their negligence causes an injury, they should be held responsible for their actions.
Identifying the Liable Party
Depending on the circumstances of the scaffolding injury, several parties could be liable. The injured worker’s employer may be liable if they failed to provide their worker with proper scaffolding training, for example, or the property owner responsible for maintaining a safe environment might be liable if they did not set up the scaffolding properly.
The following parties may be liable for scaffolding accidents:
- Employers
- Contractors
- Sub-contractors
- Property owners
- Scaffolding manufacturers
- Scaffolding installers
Identifying the liable party usually requires pointed attention, as the details vary in each case. To determine who could be responsible for your injuries, make sure you get in touch with our attorney at Law Offices of Charles R. Gueli to discuss your potential case. We have ample experience working with injured construction workers and we are passionate about fighting for workers’ rights. If you have a case, we want to hear from you.
Contact Law Offices of Charles R. Gueli today to speak with our attorney. We offer free consultations and we’re available 24/7.