Scaffolding fall injures 2 construction workers

Construction work is a vital part of the North Carolina economy, but it can also be a very dangerous industry. Workers that suffer injuries or, even worse, lose their lives, probably don’t ever think that harm will befall them while on the job. Still, construction workers’ accidents can and do happen, such as a recent out-of-state incident that left two workers and a pedestrian injured after a scaffolding fall.

On a recent afternoon, two construction workers were working to resurface the brick exterior of a hotel. Somehow, a outside construction elevator collapsed and fell to the sidewalk. The two workers were injured — one of them was forced to hang from the ledge of the building before he was saved. A woman walking by was also injured by the falling scaffolding. Local streets had to be closed for a period of time due to safety concerns.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is continuing to investigate exactly what happened, as it is still uncertain how the incident occurred. They have six months to complete their investigation which will include going to the scene, studying the equipment that failed and surveying the area. OSHA issued violations against the same company for the death of another construction worker last year. The company has contested those violations.

Employees who are injured like this may wish to pursue a claim for workers’ compensation. Claims could be used to offset costs related to a scaffolding fall such as medical bills and lost wages. An experienced attorney can guide North Carolina workers through this type of claim in pursuit of the maximum benefits payable.