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Faulty Scaffolding and Support Accidents in Philadelphia

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There are hundreds of noisy construction projects around Philadelphia each day.  Those sites provide a living for many workers locally.  The Philadelphia Tribune found that nearly 12,000 workers head into the city to buckle up a tool belt each day.

Construction workers lay the foundation to keep our city growing and they expect their construction companies to support them when it comes to safety.  Sometimes the biggest hazards come from the support beneath a worker’s feet.  Scaffolding and supports can fail, leaving a worker’s body to absorb a damaging fall.

Unstable Footing on Scaffolding

Accidents are common on construction sites, and the risk increases when you factor in elevated workspaces.  65 % of people in the construction industry, work on scaffolds. Osha and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) constantly monitor the dangers involved with these heights.

Workers use some of the most dangerous equipment in any industry and they may be working with powerful tools while also up several stories and trusting support structures to give them a firm footing.

Support Collapse Accident Causes

When the BLS looked at the problem it found 72 percent of workers injured in scaffold accidents attributed the accident either to the planking or support giving way or to the employee slipping or being struck by a falling object.

Environment Health Safety research showed several factors that commonly led to scaffolding accidents:

  • Incorrect Operating Procedures and a lack of training.
  • Inadequate fall protection
  • Weak planking
  • Overloaded Scaffolding
  • Failures at attachment points, parts failure
  • Insecure or non-existent bracing
  • Changing environmental conditions (extreme temperatures, high winds, presence of toxic gases)

30 feet was the most common height for fatal construction falls over a three year period.  Those accidents lead to 211 deaths.  Surprisingly, fatal falls of just 11 to 15 feet were nearly as common and accounted for 172 deaths.

Common Scaffolding Collapse Injuries

Height factors greatly into how badly a worker can be injured in a fall.  The accident can cause brain and spinal cord injuries.  Paralysis can be the result. Organ Damage and broken bones are common.

A study found that in falls from support structures the forearm was most commonly fractured or dislocated.  The ankle was the most common joint to be sprained or contused.

A fear of heights can, understandably, result from a tragic fall.  This, of course, can be devastating to a construction worker’s future because many jobs will require him or her to work off the ground.  Even if a full recovery can be made, getting back up on scaffolding or support may be impossible.

Contact a Philadelphia Construction Accident Lawyer

An accident at a construction site can be a complex case when you try to hold your employer responsible for your hospital bills and recovery.  There are actually many parties that can be involved in a claim for damages.  Anyone involved in the project including Sub-contractors, property owners, developers, and even the manufacturer of malfunctioning equipment can share in the blame.

If you are trying to recover from a fall on the job, you should focus on getting better and returning to work.  Let an experienced attorney handle your case against insurance companies to get your bills paid.

After any accident involving a serious injury, contact a highly rated Philadelphia Construction Accident Lawyer such as Edith Pearce. Unlike the huge firms with dozens of attorneys and many different attorneys handling different aspects of your case, Edith Pearce is personally involved in every case that we handle. She genuinely cares about her clients and you will not be treated like just another case or file.

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