The most dangerous jobs on any construction site are those that carry the risk of a fall. Working on a job site where scaffolding is being used can bring both the risk of fall for those on the scaffold, as well as risks to those below of injuries from a scaffold collapse, or head injuries from tools dropped from above. Many times, substandard scaffolding materials and a failure to provide necessary safety equipment can be at the root of Mississippi scaffold accidents. If you’ve been hurt on the job in a scaffold accident, you might have a right to money damages for your injuries. Contact the experienced Biloxi construction accident attorney Corban Gunn to discuss your options after a workplace injury.
Training can help workers avoid scaffold accidents
Even workers who may be experienced at construction work need training on how to safely inspect and use a scaffold. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that 65% of workers on construction sites must work on scaffolding frequently. When OSHA revised its guidelines on scaffold use, however, it found that 25% of workers had never been properly trained on how to use and work on scaffolding safely. OSHA reports that 72% of all scaffold accidents were attributed to a planking or support giving way, or to the worker slipping or being hit by a falling object. These injuries are all preventable with appropriate training, which job site supervisors are required to provide.
Common injuries caused by scaffold accidents
Scaffold injuries can be some of the most life-threatening injuries on a job site, causing roughly 60 fatalities every year, and approximately $90 million in workdays lost. Frequent scaffold injuries include:
- Broken bones, bruises, and lacerations from a fall
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) from a fall
- Injuries to the skull from objects being dropped from scaffolding above
- Electrocution
- Crush injuries from collapsed scaffolding
You may not be limited to only receiving Workers’ Compensation
You might assume that, any time you’re hurt on the job, Worker’s Compensation is the only way for you to be paid for your medical bills and lost work. While Workers’ Compensation benefits aren’t always enough to be able to afford the basic expenses of life if you’re out of work for an extended period, you may have additional options to be paid what you deserve for your injuries. For instance, if a third party—a person or company other than your employer—is responsible for the accident, you may have a legal claim against the responsible party. For example, if an outside contractor was hired to install scaffolding but did not ensure that it was installed correctly, causing it to collapse and injure you, you could have a claim for money damages against the negligent outside contractor. ¬
After you’re hurt on the job, you need to act fast to make sure you get the money to which you’re entitled for your injuries. Speak with a lawyer as soon as possible after a scaffolding accident along the Mississippi Gulf Coast so that you can begin the process of recovering compensation for your workplace accident. Contact the skilled, determined, and experienced Biloxi construction accident attorney Corban Gunn for a free consultation on your case, at 228.284.6805.
