New York Scaffolding Accident Attorneys

The Law Firm of Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro has over 50 years experience in handling all types of construction site accidents. We handle a variety of construction accident cases, including New York scaffolding accidents, nail gun accidents, elevator accidents, defective machinery accidents, crane accidents, hazardous energy accidents and compressed gas accidents. These accidents often involve injuries such as spinal cord and back injuries, amputations, crushed limbs, burns, traumatic brain injuries, paraplegia and quadriplegia.

According to OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Heath Administrations), close to 2.3 million construction employees work on scaffolding on a regular basis, and approximately 4,500 construction workers suffer serious and often fatal injuries each year due to improper scaffolding safety precautions and employer negligence. These accidents still occur even though many state and federal regulations, as well as industry standards, require owners, general contractors and sub-contractors to implement a wide variety of safety measures.

A scaffold is defined as an elevated, temporary work platform.

There are three basic types of scaffolds:

1. Supported scaffolds, which consist of one or more platforms supported by rigid, load-bearing members, such as poles, legs, frames, outriggers, etc.
   
   
2. Suspended scaffolds, which are one or more platforms suspended by ropes or other non-rigid, overhead support.
   
   
3. Other scaffolds, principally manlifts, personnel hoists, etc., which are sometimes thought of as vehicles or machinery, but can be regarded as another type of supported scaffold.

Workers are subjected to many hazards associated with working on scaffolds, including:

• Falls from elevation, due to lack of fall protection.
  
  
• Collapse of the scaffold, caused by instability or overloading.
  
  
• Being struck by falling tools, work materials, or debris,
  
  
• Electrocution, principally due to proximity of the scaffold to overhead power lines.

Standards have been established for scaffolds, and employers must adhere to the mandated requirements. Some of the most important safety requirements are as follows:

• Each scaffold and scaffold component must support without failure its own weight and at least 4 times the maximum intended load applied or transmitted to it.


• A qualified person must design the scaffolds, which are loaded in accordance with that design.
  
  
• Scaffolds and scaffold components must not be loaded in excess of their maximum intended loads or rated capacities, whichever is less.
  
  
• All suspension scaffold support devices, such as outrigger beams, cornice hooks, and parapet clamps, must rest on surfaces capable of supporting at least 4 times the load imposed on them.
  
  
• They must be secured against movement by tiebacks installed at right angles to the face of the building or structure or by opposing angle tiebacks installed and secured to a structurally sound point of anchorage.
  
  
• No more than two employees should occupy suspension scaffolds designed for a working load of 500 pounds.
  
  
• No more than three employees should occupy suspension scaffolds designed for a working load of 750 pounds.

Even though strict regulations have been established, many employers continue to act in an irresponsible and negligent manner. Construction workers trust that their employers have taken the utmost care in presenting a safe and secure work environment. However, negligent companies, contractors, sub-contractors and equipment manufacturers continue to disregard the safety of their employees.

The New York construction accident lawyers of Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro are committed to upholding the rights of laborers and construction workers who, in order to support their families, have been subjected to unsafe and negligent working environments.