Workers on construction sites in Arizona face an endless list of safety hazards, regardless of the project on which they are working. Safety authorities say that scaffolding violations lead to a significant percentage of all citations issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Research has also shown that the costs related to scaffolding injuries average over $45,000 each.
OSHA emphasizes scaffolding safety when they do investigations and inspections. The agency requires construction company owners to provide the necessary safety training. Along with hazard training, safety plans must include maintenance and operations related to scaffolds, such as the proper use of fall arrest equipment and how to prevent dropped tool incidents that could injure workers at lower levels.
Safety authorities say independent studies have shown that scaffold injury rates are more than 50% lower in companies that have established safety training programs than employers who failed to have safety and health programs in place. This rate refers to lost workdays due to injuries. A lack of safety training causes too many preventable injuries.
Arizona construction workers who have to deal with lost wages and medical expenses after scaffolding accidents might find comfort in knowing that the state-regulated insurance program will have their backs. An experienced workers compensation attorney can assist throughout the benefits claims process. Standard compensation typically covers medical expenses and lost wages, but workers whose injuries caused permanent disabilities might be eligible for additional compensation. Vocational rehabilitation could form part of this, teaching the injured worker new skills to pursue a different occupation.
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