According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), [1] falls are the number one cause of death among construction workers who are on the job. Members of construction crews often work at great heights and, whether they are on ladders, building structures, or other high places, falls can occur and cause catastrophic injuries. One common reason for falls among construction workers is scaffolding that collapses.
In October, two different scaffolding accidents sent numerous construction workers to the hospital with injuries. First, one man fell [2] when scaffolding collapsed by Greenway Plaza and only a couple weeks later, six men sustained injuries in an extensive scaffold collapse [33] downtown across from Minute Maid Park. Attorney Guss is currently representing workers catastrophically injured in this terrible construction tragedy. The fact that two different collapses on two different sites occurred in Houston in such a short period of time demonstrates how common scaffolding accidents can be. Houston is growing at such a rapid pace that, unfortunately, many contractors “cut corners” when it comes to worker safety. Attorney Guss is deadly serious on making sure that these contractors are held to account when their quest for greater profits results in hard working men and women being injured or killed.
Some of the following are common causes of scaffolding accidents:
- Improper construction or securement of the scaffolding
- Having no guardrails or inadequate guardrails
- Damages or otherwise defective planks for workers to stand on
- Unsafe harnesses or lack of harnesses
- Inadequate training for workers regarding scaffolding safety
Injuries caused by scaffold collapses
When scaffolding collapses and a construction worker falls, many serious injuries may occur, including the following:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken or shattered bones
- Internal organ damage and/or bleeding
- Serious contusions or lacerations
Many workers who fall due to dangerous scaffolding require extensive medical treatment and may be left with permanent disabilities if they survive their injuries.
Consult with an experienced Houston construction worker accident attorney today
Construction workers who sustain serious injuries due to falls caused by dangerous conditions on the work site deserve to receive full compensation for all of their losses. At the Houston law office of Stewart J. Guss, we stand up for the rights of construction workers or other victims injured in preventable accidents. We offer free consultations, so please do not delay in calling our office at 800-898-4877 to find out more about how we can help you.
