The safety of employees should be an employer’s main concern. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. While proper safety measures and protocols are required, some employers are focused more on their company’s profits than on your rights. In a field like construction, carelessness can have major consequences. According to the OSHA Education School, construction has the highest rate of fatalities related to workplace accidents among any field. This increased risk of death or injury is likely due to the dangerous nature of the job. One of the most common causes of death in construction is falls, typically from faulty personal protective equipment (PPE) or scaffolding. If you’ve been injured in a scaffolding accident in NYC, you need an experienced Queens personal injury lawyer to take on your case!
Understanding Scaffolding Accidents
Scaffolding is a temporary structure, typically made from planks or metal poles, that stands tall.
Using scaffolding, construction workers can reach heights to build, clean, or repair buildings. However, to be “safe” under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), these structures must meet certain requirements.
Each scaffold should be able to support its own weight, plus four times the intended maximum load.- Each suspension rope should be capable, without failure, of supporting at least 6 times the maximum intended load.
- Each platform unit can’t have spaces more than 1 inch wide between adjacent units, and between platforms and uprights, unless the employer demonstrates that it’s necessary.
- Each platformand walkway should be at least 18 inches wide.
- Employees on scaffolding must be protected from falls with proper PPE, guardrails, and/or personal fall arrest systems.
- And more!
If any of these OSHA protocols are breached, construction workers may suffer:
- Falls from heights that are typically due to a lack of fall protection.
- The collapse of scaffolding, likely caused by faulty construction or exceeding weight limits.
- Being struck by falling tools, construction materials, or debris.
- Electrocution, often due to the proximity of the scaffold to overhead power lines.
Under OSHA administrative law, employers must provide you with a safe work environment. If you have already filed a claim with OSHA for unsafe working conditions, or if you have been injured on the job, it is illegal for your employer to retaliate against you while exercising your rights. Contact a Queens scaffolding injury lawyer like those at Shaevitz & Shaevitz to learn what your case may be worth.
How a Queens Scaffolding Accident Lawyer Can Help
If you are a construction worker injured on the job, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation.
After your accident, seek medical attention right away, and file an official report with your employer or company. This claim automatically provides no-fault benefits that cover medical bills and lost wages. However, you must be working in your capacity as an employee at the time of the incident.
If your injuries are a direct result of a job site owner, property manager, or contractor, you may be eligible for further compensation!
By contacting a Queens scaffolding accident lawyer, we help determine who is at fault for your accident and what your injuries may be worth. We will collect evidence, such as witness statements and medical records, to build your case. And with this information, we can prove that the negligence of another party is responsible for your injuries.
While you take the time to recover from your injuries, trust the legal experts and Shaevitz & Shaevitz to prove negligence, build your case, and even negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf.
Hire a Queens Scaffolding Lawyer After Your Accident in NYC
As an employee, your safety is your employer’s responsibility. If you’re in a scaffolding accident as a construction worker in NYC, it’s important to know your rights to compensation! After filing a workplace accident claim, contact an experienced scaffolding lawyer to learn if you’re eligible for further compensation. If so, we will take on your case and collect evidence to acquire a settlement or verdict for you.
Book a free consultation and case review in Queens to learn what your injuries may be worth.
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