Scaffolding Accidents: What You Need to Know

Scaffolding is an essential component of numerous construction projects, providing workers with elevated platforms to perform their tasks. However, these temporary structures can also pose significant safety risks. According to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), approximately 65% of construction workers, or 2.3 million people, work on scaffolds. Falls from heights are the leading cause of death in construction, with scaffolding involved in about one in four fatal falls. Understanding the risks, common causes of accidents, and legal rights can help prevent injuries and ensure accountability when accidents occur.

Common Causes of Scaffolding Accidents

Scaffolding accidents can arise from a variety of factors, often stemming from negligence or failure to adhere to safety standards. Identifying these causes is the first step in preventing future incidents. Here are some of the most prevalent causes:

System Failures: These occur when a part or parts of the scaffolding falter, leading to instability or collapse. Issues can include problems with the foundation, support elements, connections, or safety devices. Examples include platform or planking breaking or slipping. Ensuring scaffolding systems meet OSHA standards and are regularly inspected and maintained can significantly reduce the risk of system failures that endanger workers.
Environmental Factors: External forces such as wind, noise, or sudden temperature changes can catch workers off guard and throw them off balance. Weather-related conditions, like rain or ice, can also make scaffolding slippery and hazardous.
Human Factors: These often stem from negligence or a failure to recognize the risks associated with working at heights. Many scaffold-related accidents can be attributed to inadequate training, lack of proper personal protective equipment (PPE), or inattention to safety protocols. Common human errors include falling off scaffolding due to inattention or improper use.
Scaffolding Defects: Accidents can be triggered by negligent manufacturing practices, leading to the production of substandard equipment with flaws that compromise worker safety. When scaffolds are constructed using inferior materials or subpar workmanship, they become prone to structural failure, collapse, or unexpected malfunctions.
Improper Construction: Scaffolding must be built correctly in order to be safe for usage, even if it is not defective. A significant cause of scaffolding accidents on construction sites is improper scaffolding construction, which can always be avoided with the right information and supervision (e.g., failing to securely fasten all attachment points, failing to build appropriate bracing, and failing to provide guardrails).
Inadequate Maintenance: It is essential to maintain a scaffold to preserve its structural integrity properly. If the structure is old, your employer needs to replace it. In addition, if the scaffold is not adequately maintained, it could lead to slippery surfaces and other safety hazards.
Lack of Overhead Protection: The absence of overhead protection exposes workers on scaffolds to falling objects, a serious hazard on construction sites. Without suitable protective measures such as canopies or netting, workers are at risk of being struck by tools, materials, or debris, potentially causing severe injuries.
Overloading: When scaffolds are overloaded beyond their capacity with workers, materials, or tools, they can collapse, leading to serious accidents.

Common Injuries in Scaffolding Accidents

Scaffolding accidents can result in a wide range of injuries, varying in severity from minor to life-threatening. The nature and extent of the injury often depend on the height of the fall, the objects involved, and the safety measures in place. Some of the most common injuries include:

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): Falls are the most common cause of injury in scaffolding accidents. A TBI typically results from a direct blow to the head or violent motion during a fall. The symptoms can vary depending on the severity, ranging from concussions and memory issues to long-term cognitive impairments.
Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis: A hard landing or direct impact to the back can fracture vertebrae or compress spinal discs. In the worst cases, the injury may damage the spinal cord itself, potentially leading to partial or complete paralysis.
Broken Bones and Fractures: One of the most common injuries in scaffolding accidents is broken bones. The nature of these breaks can vary widely, from hairline fractures to compound fractures that break through the skin. Arms, legs, ribs, and collarbones are particularly vulnerable when a worker falls or becomes trapped under collapsed scaffolding.
Cuts and Soft Tissue Damage: Falling or scraping against metal edges, bolts, or debris can cause deep cuts and abrasions. While some lacerations may be superficial, others can sever tendons, muscles, or nerves. Soft tissue injuries also include sprains, strains, and bruising.
Internal Injuries: The force of a fall or impact can cause damage to internal organs, leading to internal bleeding and other complications.
Emotional and Psychological Trauma: In addition to physical injuries, individuals who sustain scaffolding injuries may suffer from significant emotional and psychological trauma. This can include feelings of stress, anxiety, fear, and even symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that last long after the physical injuries have healed.

OSHA Regulations and Safety Standards

To minimize the risk of scaffolding accidents, OSHA has established comprehensive regulations and safety standards. These requirements cover various aspects of scaffolding, including design, construction, maintenance, and usage. Key OSHA requirements include:

Fall Protection: Fall protection is required at heights of 10 feet or more. Guardrails, safety harnesses, or personal fall arrest systems must be used based on scaffold type. Scaffold users must be trained on proper fall protection techniques.
Guardrails: Guardrails must be installed on all open sides of scaffolds above 10 feet. Top rails must be between 38-45 inches high and withstand at least 200 lbs. Midrails must be installed halfway between the top rail and platform. Toeboards at least 3.5 inches high must be used to prevent objects from falling.
Access: Safe entry and exit must be provided whenever scaffold platforms are more than two feet above or below a point of access. Acceptable means of access include portable ladders, hook-on or attachable ladders, integral prefabricated scaffold access, stair towers, and ramps or walkways.
Capacity: Scaffolds must be able to support at least four times their maximum intended load—without failure.
Footing and Stability: Scaffolds must rest on firm, level foundations. OSHA prohibits using bricks, blocks, barrels, or anything that could shift under load. When scaffolds exceed four times their minimum base width in height, they must be tied back to the structure or guyed or braced for stability.
Inspection: The rigging on all suspended scaffolds must undergo inspection by a competent person before each shift. If any part of the rigging is damaged or loose, the scaffold’s stability could be compromised. Connections must be tight, and all scaffold components should be free of visible damage.
Training and Supervision: Scaffolds must be erected, used, and dismantled under the direct supervision of a competent person—someone qualified to identify hazards and correct unsafe conditions. Every worker involved must also be properly trained on recognizing and avoiding fall hazards, load capacities and material handling limits, approved access points and restricted zones, and working safely near power lines and other electrical hazards.

Legal Rights and Compensation

If you have been injured in a scaffolding accident, it is crucial to understand your legal rights and the potential avenues for compensation. Depending on the circumstances of the accident, you may be entitled to receive compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.

Workers’ Compensation: Construction workers injured in a scaffolding accident can file a workers’ compensation claim to collect benefits such as medical coverage, rehabilitation expenses, and partial or total temporary or permanent disability payments.
Third-Party Claims: If your fall was caused by the negligence of someone other than your direct employer, you can file a personal injury lawsuit against that third party. For example, you file a third-party lawsuit against the general contractor, the scaffolding manufacturer, or another subcontractor.
Damages: When you seek compensation after a scaffolding fall, the damages you pursue are divided into economic and non-economic categories. Economic damages are the tangible financial costs tied to your scaffolding accident injuries, including all medical expenses, all lost income, and other out-of-pocket costs. Non-economic damages address the profound, intangible suffering, including pain and suffering.

What to Do After a Scaffolding Accident

Accidents on scaffolds can happen quickly and unexpectedly, leaving victims unsure of what steps to take next. If you’ve been injured in a scaffold accident, it’s important to stay calm and take the right actions to protect your health and your legal rights. Here’s what you should do right after a scaffold accident:

Get medical attention immediately.
Report the incident to your supervisor.
Document the scene if possible—take photos of the scaffold, surrounding conditions, and injuries.
Preserve any tools or gear used during the accident.
Contact an experienced attorney as soon as possible.

Conclusion

Scaffolding accidents can have devastating consequences for workers and their families. By understanding the common causes of these accidents, adhering to safety regulations, and knowing your legal rights, you can help prevent injuries and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.