Imagine working 200 feet above ground level. There are co-workers around hollering about the building materials that they need, as you are working on some mundane task. You take a break, look out into the horizon, and feel the cold Minnesota air blowing against your face. Suddenly, the scaffold underneath your feet collapses! Scary thought, right?!

Unfortunately, many construction site accidents and industrial injuries in Minnesota are caused when construction companies ignore safety rules to maximize profits, thereby putting workers at risk. Every year a mind-blowing number of 4,500 people fall from scaffolds, suffering injuries, which require hospitalization. Out of those, 50 people die as a result of the accident. For this reason, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) has implemented a safety standard in 1971 in order to provide a safer working environment for construction workers.

According to Minnesota Statute §182.653 subd. 3, each employer shall comply with occupational safety and health standards or rules. In addition, Minnesota Statute §182.653 subd. 2 states, each employer shall furnish to each of its employees conditions of employment and a place of employment free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious injury or harm to its employees.

Scaffolds that have been manufactured according to the OSHA regulations have stable working platforms, as the platform supports at least four times the intended load. Moreover, the scaffolding components, such as legs, arms, runners, frames, outriggers, decking and planning are also designed to support more than the intended load. Common causes of scaffolding accidents stem from improper construction, negligent maintenance, planking/support give away, and slipping. Consequently, severe injuries such as, brain damage, orthopedic fractures, spinal cord injuries, concussion, and even fatality can result from these accidents.

As too many people die or are seriously injured each year as a result of scaffold accidents, the majority of these accidents could be prevented if adequate measures were taken in advance. I heavily recommend to those who have suffered injuries due to scaffolding collapses to seek medical assistance. Also, seek a competent attorney to understand your legal rights concerning this matter.

***DISCLAIMER: The content provided is not intended to be construed as legal advice. If you have any questions or concerns, based on your factual circumstances, please contact Richard Y. Cheng, Esq. with Pearson, Randall, Schumacher & LaBore, P.A. (612)767-7500 or rcheng@prslegal.com***

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 11th, 2009 at 9:37 am and is filed under Scaffolding Collapse. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.