The Dangers of Scaffolding and Ladders on the Job

Scaffolding and ladders present major dangers to workers. Despite numerous safety rules surrounding these construction items, they are still responsible for scores of deaths and many more injuries.

If your job requires you to utilize scaffolding or ladders, you should always use caution. If you become injured in a ladder or scaffolding accident, you should not hesitate to seek out all medical care you require. The costs of your medical treatment should be covered by your employer, and you should also be paid for the time that you could not work because of your injury. These are two benefits provided for workers under California’s workers’ compensation law.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that 65 percent of construction employees work on scaffolds frequently. Other industries that frequently use scaffolding or ladders include painters, window cleaners, and maintenance workers.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), there were 54 fatalities in the year 2009 that occurred due to scaffold accidents. The CFOI also reported that 127 workers died from falls off ladders.

According to a publication by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 72 percent of employees injured in scaffold accidents said that the accident was caused by the planking or scaffolding supports giving way or by an employee slipping and falling or being struck by a falling object.

Injuries following a fall from scaffolding or a ladder can be serious and life-threatening. If the accident is not fatal, it is possible that you will need surgery, long periods of rest, and significant physical therapy.

Common injuries experienced by workers falling from scaffolding or ladders include:

• Traumatic brain injury, also known as a concussion.
• Spinal cord injuries, which can lead to paralysis from the waist or shoulders down.
• Internal organ injury.
• Fractures, also known as broken bones.
• Severe lacerations, also known as deep cut wounds.

If you or a loved one has suffered an accident on scaffolding or a ladder at a job site and are having trouble understanding the workers’ compensation system, working with an experienced attorney should be your top priority. The workers’ comp system contains many highly specific rules that can be difficult to understand. Hiring a trustworthy San Jose scaffolding and ladder accident lawyer can help get you the benefits you deserve.

Call the lawyers at Corsiglia McMahon & Allard, L.L.P. today at 408-289-1417 or toll free at 866-433-6797. There is no charge for your initial consultation.

• Scaffolding
• Fatal occupational injuries