Scaffolding Falls Can Be Minimized

A scaffold is a temporary, elevated platform that is constructed for the safety of construction workers. Some scaffolds can be designed as planks and guardrails over two sawhorses while others can be extremely complex and hundreds of feet tall to build skyscrapers. The U.S. Department of Labor estimates 2.3 million construction workers work on scaffolds frequently. Ensuring their safety and minimizing scaffolding falls could save 4,500 injuries per year.

Employers Responsible for Construction Safety


Regulations by OSHA say that employers are responsible for construction safety accidents and must provide a safe scaffolding environment, protective nets over work spaces, and harnesses over certain feet. OSHA further states that scaffolds should only be erected, moved, dismantled, or altered under the supervision of a knowledgeable and competent person to avoid scaffolding falls. And this competent person must also direct and train employees on its safe use and personally inspect scaffolding before each work shift and when its integrity may be questioned, i.e., a worker removing a brace to reach his work or when a broken piece is discovered.

Prevention of Scaffolding Falls Inspection Checklist


The Job Safety & Health Quarterly offers employers and their construction supervisors the following daily checklist in order to prevent scaffolding falls.
  • Are scaffolds and scaffold components inspected before each work shift by a competent person?
  • Have employees been trained by a competent person to recognize the hazards associated with the type of scaffold and their duties related to this scaffold?
  • Have employees been trained by a qualified person to recognize the hazards associated with the scaffolding being used, and do they know their duties in preventing construction falls?
  • Is the maximum load capacity of this scaffold known and communicated to all employees?
  • Is the load on the scaffold (including point loading) within the maximum load capacity of this particular scaffold?
  • Is the scaffold plumb, square, and level?
  • Is the scaffold on base plates and are mudsills level, sound, and rigid?
  • Is there safe access to all scaffold platforms?
  • Are all working platforms fully planked to avoid scaffolding falls?
  • Do planks extend at least 6 inches and no more than 12 inches over the supports?
  • Are the planks in good condition and free of visible defects?
  • Does the scaffold have all required guardrails and toeboards?
  • Are 4:1 (height to width) scaffolds secured to a building or structure
Seeger Weiss will continue to fight for construction safety to minimize scaffolding falls. Contact us if you have suffered based on your employer’s negligence.

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