If you work in construction, you may have to work at significant heights on a regular basis, and scaffolding is probably a major part of your work environment. In fact, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that about 65% of construction workers are frequently on scaffolds.
Another fact: some of the most common accidents on construction sites involve scaffolds and other types of hoists, lifts and ladders. These accidents can be devastating and permanently life-changing. Construction workers and their families need to know their options for getting all the available medical care and financial compensation after a scaffold accident.
Common Causes of Scaffold Injuries
OSHA has established regulations for the design, construction, use and inspection of scaffolds on construction sites. All construction employers, supervisors and workers must comply with the rules.
However, scaffolding safety violations often result in serious injuries. Common causes of scaffold injuries include:
- Falls from improperly installed, defective or unreasonably dangerous scaffold equipment
- Tools and other materials falling onto workers from scaffolds
- An employer’s failure to require the use of protective equipment
Workers’ Compensation and Other Options
To receive workers’ compensation for a scaffold injury in Georgia, you do not have to prove that anyone was at fault for the accident. In other words, you don’t have to prove that your employer or your co-worker was negligent. The Georgia workers’ compensation system is a no-fault system.
However, if someone other than your employer or co-worker caused your injury, you may have grounds for a personal injury claim. For example, if a delivery driver or a worker on a different construction crew caused the accident, a personal injury claim may be appropriate. In many cases, a personal injury claim leads to significantly more compensation than the benefits of a workers’ compensation claim.
Whatever your situation may be, talk to a Georgia workers’ compensation and personal injury lawyer to get the information you need to maximize your compensation for medical care and lost income. Scaffold accidents often result in injuries that affect individuals and families for many years after the accident, and it’s important to look at the short-term and long-term effects of the accident to determine the appropriate amount of compensation.