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Suspension Scaffolds are Construction Site Hazards in Indiana

Posted on September 14, 2011 by Ronald Todd

Two workers are painting on a suspension scaffold. The scaffold fails. One of the workers falls from height to his death. The other is able to climb back up to roof. The suspension scaffold was secured to a structurally sound portion of the building. The workers were not provided with any personal fall protection (harness and lanyard) that was attached to an independent lifeline.

These types of construction fatalities are preventable when:

1. The general contractor develops and enforces a safety and health program for the safe operations of the work at the construction project (29 CFR 1926.20(b)(1));
   
2. A competent person performs regular and frequent inspections of the construction site, equipment and materials (29 CFR 1926.20(b)(2));
   
3. All workers are trained on how to recognize and avoid unsafe conditions at the jobsite and with their work (29 CFR 1926.21(b)(2));
   
4. All scaffolds are constructed to support at least four times the maximum load (29 CFR 1926.451(a)(7));
   
5. All suspension scaffolds are provided with secondary means of anchorage to a structurally sound portion of the building (29 CFR 1926.451(i)(4));
   
6. All workers are required to wear personal fall protection attached to an independent lifeline that is secured to a substantial structural portion of the building (29 CFR 1926.451(i)(8)).
   

For additional information see:

• Construction Safety and Health Standards (OSHA 2207); and
• Selected Occupational Fatalities Related to Powered, Two-Point Suspension Scaffolds/Powered Platforms as Found in Reports of OSHA Fatality/Catastrophe Investigations (National Technical Information Service - Order No. PB83-194-050).

If you or a loved one has been injured in a scaffold accident, you need an experienced construction site accident lawyer. Falls from height cases can be won or lost based on investigation conducted by your attorney. The sooner you hire a qualified attorney, the sooner we can start protecting your rights. We offer evening and weekend hours in addition to our weekly business hours, we are ready to help. Our phone lines are open twenty-four/seven, so call 317-375-7718 or contact us online at www.ronaldtoddlaw.com today for a free conference.

This entry was posted in Construction Accidents, Ladder & Scaffold Accidents, Construction Accident Indiana, Construction Accident Law Firm, Construction Fatalities, Construction Injury Attorney, Construction Injury Lawyer, Construction Site Accident Lawyer, Construction Site Hazards, Ronald S. Todd, P.C., Scaffold Accidents, Scaffold Injury