What are the main causes of scaffolding accidents?

The California Code of Regulations, Section 1637, outlines the safety standards for scaffolds. Some of the most common causes of scaffolding accidents include: 

Improper Scaffolding Construction and Maintenance

Oftentimes, scaffolding accidents result because of improper construction or maintenance of scaffolding. Employers must construct scaffolding correctly for it to be safe for their employees. Failure to install guardrails, necessary bracing, or failure to fasten all attachment points are common ways that scaffolding accidents occur due to improper construction. These types of accidents are avoidable with proper supervision and knowledge of erecting scaffolding. 

While safely building scaffolding is crucial, it is also essential that the scaffolding be maintained appropriately to support the scaffolding’s structural integrity. Scaffolding needs to be replaced over time because weak planks on the scaffold can cause workers to fall, resulting in serious and often fatal injuries. Inadequate maintenance of scaffolds often leads to other safety hazards. 

Scaffolding Defects

Scaffolding accidents often occur due to defects with the scaffolding. For example, if the scaffolding lacks the necessary bracing or the attachment points do not line up correctly, the scaffolding would be considered defective. If defects with the scaffolding caused you to be injured, you might be able to bring a third-party negligence claim against the scaffolding manufacturer. 

Inadequate Worker Training

Specific training is required to construct or work on scaffolding. Construction workers who erect scaffolding are required to be trained in proper construction methods and safety standards. These methods and standards also depend on the type of scaffolding they are building. Construction workers who work on scaffolding must also be trained on the risks involved with the different scaffolding types. Safety is critical on construction sites. Coworkers who are inexperienced, untrained, or who do not take safety seriously often pose serious safety risks on construction sites. Especially when working on scaffolding, someone’s mistake can cause dire consequences for everyone around them. 

Ignoring Safety Standards 

We often see scaffolding accidents because employers choose to ignore essential safety standards. For example, overloading the scaffold or building the scaffold too close to power lines. Both of these situations can have serious and even fatal consequences. If an employer ignores safety standards and you were injured on the job, you may be able to file a serious and willful misconduct complaint against your employer. 

Inadequate Safety Equipment 

Even if scaffolding is constructed and maintained properly, there are still other risks involved, so it is paramount that safety equipment is provided and used. OSHA requires that employers provide fall protection equipment for each employee working on a scaffold that is more than 10 feet high. There are two types of fall protection systems: guardrail systems and personal fall arrest systems. The kind of fall protection that is required depends on the type of scaffolding used. 

There is also a requirement for falling objects protection to protect employees from falling tools, debris, or other objects at the construction site. Scaffolding should be covered when necessary to protect employees from injuries due to objects falling from overhead. Employees must also be required to wear hardhats to protect them from falling objects. Accidents on scaffolding because of lack of safety equipment are often easily avoidable injuries.