How Does the “Scaffolding Law” Protect New York Workers?

Falls from heights during construction work often involve falls ladders or scaffolds. However, the differences in falls can be substantial. Workers on ladders may be feet from the ground, whereas workers on scaffolds could be many stories off the ground.

This type of work at heights is so dangerous that the State of New York passed a law, called Labor Law 240, to offer extra protection to laborers, who do construction work at heights.

Labor Law 240 has additional safety regulations that apply when scaffolding or staging is more than 20 feet off the ground or floor. Scaffolds or staging at these heights require safety rails. The scaffolding or staging also must be fastened to prevent it from swaying. Scaffolding should be sturdy enough to bear four times the weight that is placed on it, when in use.

Equipment that Labor Law 240 Requires for Safety Protection

By law, all contractors, owners and their agents (except owners of one and two-family dwellings) involved with construction or building maintenance work must furnish or erect equipment to give laborers proper protection. Equipment includes:

• Scaffolding
• Hoists
• Stays
• Ladders
• Slings
• Hangers
• Blocks
• Pulleys
• Braces
• Iron
• Ropes
• Other protective devices

What Types of Work Does the Scaffold Law Cover?

The Scaffold Law protects workers doing the following work involved with buildings and structures:

• Erection
• Demolition
• Repairs
• Alterations
• Painting
• Cleaning
• Pointing

Are Many Workers at Risk for Scaffolding Injuries?

OSHA (Occupational and Safety Health Administration) estimates that 65 percent of construction workers in the U.S. work on scaffolds. Close to three quarters of scaffold accidents resulted from the following:

• Planking or support gave way
• Employee slipped and fell
• A falling object struck the employee

Falls from heights can create a crippling injury. Any worker who sustains an injury of this type should contact an experienced personal injury lawyer for help with recovering compensation. For more information, see our Ladder and Scaffold Accidents page.