At least 50 construction workers are killed every year due to falls from scaffolding. Many more are injured. If you or a loved one was injured in this type of accident, a Pittsburgh construction accident attorney from Balzarini & Watson could help. Some of the most common causes of scaffolding accidents include:

• Falling from scaffolding
• Scaffolding collapse and/or bad planking
• Struck-by or falling debris accidents
• Electrocution

All these accidents are avoidable when construction workers and contractors abide by the regulations listed in the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) handbook for the construction industry.

There are two basic types of scaffolds, although there are many other variants within those two types. Those are supported scaffolds and suspended scaffolds. Supported scaffolds are the traditional scaffolds that are built from the ground up and act as a ladder for workers to reach a high work area. Supported scaffolds are also equipped with planks/boards on the top so workers can easily stand on them and set tools safely down on them. Some common types include pump jack, frame, pole, tube and coupler, ladder jack and mobile.

Suspended scaffolds are scaffolds that are lowered from the roof down to wherever the work area is located. A common example of suspended scaffolding is what window washers use. Some of the most common types of suspended scaffolds are multi-level, needle beam, two-point adjustable, interior hung, catenary, and single-point adjustable.

There are many precautions construction workers and their employers can take to avoid scaffolding-related accidents. Above, we listed the four most common causes of scaffolding accidents. Here, we will list various ways adherence to OSHA regulations can prevent them:

Falls from Scaffolding
Scaffolding should be built with guard rails and other fall prevention safeties. Rails not only prevent workers from falling off the edge, but can also provide workers with something to hold onto if they begin to fall. OSHA also requires workers who work from great heights (exact height varies by industry) to wear fall arrest harnesses.

Scaffolding Collapse or Bad Planking
Poorly manufactured scaffolding can collapse and planking (what the workers stand on) can give way leading to serious fall accidents. To avoid these types of accidents, workers should check scaffolding before use to notice any defects, and workers should be careful to avoid placing too much weight on any one scaffold. Only undamaged, OSHA-approved planking should be used to support workmen.

Falling Debris
Hammers, buckets, power tools and the like can fall off of scaffolding down onto a worker below. To avoid these types of accidents, workers should avoid working directly underneath scaffolding if possible, or use screens/netting to catch falling objects before they hit anyone down below.

Electrocution
Sometimes, scaffolding is placed too close to power lines. If this is unavoidable, contractors should ensure that the power lines are de-energized so that workers on scaffolding are not electrocuted. Workers may also have the option of installing protective anti-electrocution covering on scaffolding.