California Injury Blog
A construction worker suffered major injuries on the job after a scaffolding collapsed on a job site and left him trapped under twisted steel and thick wooden planks. According to a 10News report, the major injury incident occurred at the Office Depot on Highland Avenue in National City, the night of May 1, 2012. Officials say the scaffolding was supporting large wood planks that formed a protective tunnel for the store’s entrance. The victim was working underneath when the structure collapsed on him. He was transported to an area hospital and his current condition is unknown. Investigators with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are looking into what caused this scaffolding accident.
My heart goes out to this injured worker and his family. I wish him the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.
Statistics Relating to Scaffolding Collapses
According to OSHA’s statistics, about 2.3 million construction workers or 63 percent of the construction industry work on scaffolds. Scaffolding collapses are entirely preventable and protecting these workers from scaffold-related accidents may prevent 4,500 injuries and 60 deaths each year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. In a recent BLS study, 72 percent of workers injured in scaffold-related accidents attributed the accident either to the planking or support giving way, or to the employee slipping or being struck by a falling object.
What Caused This Construction Accident?
Based on the news article, it is unclear as to what caused the scaffolding to collapse in this case. Was it improperly constructed or maintained? When was it last inspected? Did a defective product lead to this injury accident? Was there a supervisor on site at the time? Were there any safety violations by the construction company or general contractor? I trust investigators are looking into these and other issues in order to determine what caused this scaffolding collapse.
Compensation for Injured Workers
In such cases, victims can seek workers compensation benefits through their employers. In addition, an injured worker may be able to file a third-party claim against a contractor or sub-contractor, whose negligence contributed to the incident. Construction accident victims would be well advised to secure the services of an experienced San Diego personal injury lawyer, who will ensure that their rights are protected and that they receive fair and full compensation for their injuries, damages and losses.