Scaffolding is a structure built for the purpose of helping to build another structure. It is a temporary work aid, and enables construction site employees to perform work in areas where the use of a ladder or other height aid would not suffice. However, scaffolding accidents account for far too many personal injury accidents on construction sites, and the injuries that result from them can often be fatal.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) designates safety standards that regulate how scaffolds should be used, designed, and constructed to ensure worker protection on and around scaffolds. According to OSHA, the majority of the construction industry (about 65%) utilizes scaffolding in some way. As a result, there are about 4,500 scaffolding accident injuries and about 60 fatalities that occur each year. Injuries can range from bruises, cuts, and broken bones to serious head trauma, spinal injury leading to paralysis, and even death. Unfortunately, many scaffolding accident victims never fully recover from their injuries.

Employers and contractors of construction sites are required to maintain safe work environments in order to prevent accidents. However, with slip and fall accidents being the most prevalent type of injury on construction sites, scaffolding accidents are a particularly prevalent problem. Many accidents take place simply because safety standards have been ignored or not fully adhered to, both of which are representative of negligent behavior that can be deemed as at least partially responsible for having caused the accident. For example, if too much weight is placed on scaffolds because a construction worker is not made aware of the weight limits that the scaffolding can endure, then the scaffolding may give out and the worker may sustain significant injury. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of construction site owners and foremen to ensure that all of their employees are properly trained and made aware of the limitations that scaffolding and all other construction site equipment can endure.

The likelihood of a Seattle scaffolding accident occurring can be greatly diminished if all required safety measures are put into place. If scaffolds are properly constructed, employees are properly trained on how to perform their jobs on and around scaffolds, and other precautionary measures are fully taken into consideration and put into effect, then the probability of worker injury would substantially decrease. However, not all employers are as diligent as they should be when it comes to construction site safety.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a scaffolding accident, it is essential that you retain the services of an experienced Washington construction accident attorney to ensure that your rights are not infringed upon in a court of law. The Bernard Law Group has years of experience handling personal injury cases that center-around construction site accidents. Our Seattle personal injury attorneys will examine the circumstances of your accident, and will seek compensatory damages on your behalf to help assist with the costs associated with your accident, such as fees for vocational rehabilitation, loss of wages, and medical bills. If you’ve been injured, don’t hesitate to contact our Tacoma construction injury lawyers today for a free case consultation.