When you work on scaffolding, you may be only a few feet off the ground or several stories up, but injuries on this equipment can be severe either way. A scaffolding accident can result in a serious Virginia Workers’ Compensation injury and the need to file a claim with your employer. You want to protect your rights to benefits, and a Richmond Workers’ Compensation attorney can help you do just that.
Regulations Protecting Scaffold Workers from Workers’ Compensation Injury
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is the government branch responsible for promoting the safety of employees while at work. The OSHA regulations have specific rules for scaffold safety that your employer should be following to reduce the risk of scaffold accidents and injury.
OSHA regulations cover the design, construction, inspection, and use of scaffolding on job sites. This means that the scaffolding you are working on must pass the safety standards for use, before you are allowed to work. If your employer is negligent about these required standards and inspections, and you suffer injury while working on the scaffolding, you may be eligible to file a Workers’ Compensation injury claim.
Another part of OSHA regulations involves your employer’s duty to provide you with personal safety equipment while working. This can be as simple as hard hats or more advanced equipment such as safety harnesses and cables. If your employer does not provide the proper safety equipment or fails to replace damaged items, they can be held liable for any injuries you sustain due to lack of proper safety protection.
Common Types of Injuries Sustained from Scaffolding Accidents
The majority of accidents involving scaffolding are slip and falls due to unstable platforms. Scaffolding platforms can be damaged due to poor construction or defective materials, or they can become unstable in bad weather conditions. Falling from even a few feet off the ground could potentially cause serious, long-term injuries such as broken bones, concussion, spinal cord injury, and paralysis.
The spine is one of the most commonly injured parts of the body when a worker falls from scaffolding platforms. Herniated discs can cause chronic back pain and require surgery to minimize the discomfort from this type of injury. Nerve damage is also a common concern and can leave a worker paralyzed if the spinal cord is severed.
Falls are not the only risk with scaffolding injuries. Even workers who are not on the scaffolding can be hurt in an accident if they are working near the platforms. A falling object, such as a tool or even the platform itself, can pose a hazard to those nearby workers on the ground. Crush injuries can cause head trauma, brain damage, and broken bones, all of which can create long-term pain and complications.
The Importance of Seeking a Richmond Workers’ Compensation Attorney
Severe injuries from a scaffolding accident of any kind can result in your need to file a Workers’ Compensation injury claim. After reporting the incident to your employer, you’ll want to make sure that you do everything possible to seek the full benefits you are entitled to as an injured worker in Virginia.
When you work with an attorney, you can have a resource on your side who knows the laws and rules of Workers’ Compensation claims. Many workers are unaware of the full scope of benefits their employer should provide after a work accident. This can lead to accepting a settlement that is far lower than what you are entitled to, and leave you with medical bills, lost wages, and no way to cover them while you recover from your injuries.
Contact a Richmond Workers’ Compensation Attorney
Scaffolding accidents are just one of the many hazards that can pose a risk for injury on a construction site. Construction workers are often put in dangerous situations on a daily basis, which is why it is important to know your rights to Workers’ Compensation injury benefits.
When you have difficulties after a workers injury in Virginia, a Workers’ Comp attorney can bear some of your burden. To get back on your feet, whether it means getting back to work or getting the workers comp settlement amounts you deserve, order a copy of our free book, the Ultimate Guide to Workers’ Compensation in Virginia, and contact a Workers’ Comp attorney at the Injured Workers Law Firm for a no-cost consultation – 877-755-7744.
The Injured Workers Law Firm is a Richmond, Virginia based firm solely focused on serving clients with workers' compensation claims in Virginia. If you have questions about your benefits or if you would like more information on the Virginia Workers’ Compensation system, order our book, “The Ultimate Guide to Workers’ Compensation in Virginia” , or call our office today (804) 755-7755.