OSHA’s Rules for Safe Ladder Use:

• Inspect every ladder prior to EVERY use.
• Do not use ladders with structural defects; properly tag with “Do Not Use” and withdraw from service.
• Carry ladders parallel to the ground.

• Tie ladders down securely when transporting.
• Keep ladders free of oil, grease and other hazards.
• Do not load ladder beyond maximum intended load.
• Use ladder only for the purpose for which the ladder was designed (refer to manufacturer’s labeling and recommendations).
• Barricade traffic areas in vicinity of ladder use. Lock, barricade or guard doorways in which a ladder is placed.
• Keep area around the top and bottom of ladder clear.
• Do not move, shift or extend ladder while occupied.
• NEVER ‘WALK’ A LADDER.
• Use only non-conductive side rails around live electrical equipment.

• Do not use top or top step for standing/stepping.
• Do not stand on cross bracing.
• Always face the ladder when ascending or descending.
• Always maintain three points of contact with the ladder. (Two feet/one hand or two hands/one foot should be in contact with ladder at all times.)
• Carry tools in pouches around waist; use a rope to raise or lower large items such as tool boxes or materials.
• Do not overextend sideways. Use the belt buckle rule: keep your belt buckle positioned between the side rails at all times, which will maintain your center of gravity.
• Never allow more than one worker on the ladder at a time.
• Wear protective clothing and rubber-soled shoes.

Some Common Faults of Scaffolding

- Missing base plates or rotten sole boards.
- Bracing improperly attached.
- Missing boards.
- Ladder upside down or not attached properly.
- Plank slippage.
- Support failures.

Falls on construction sites may also occur from roof tops, girders, poles, through unreinforced walls, a hole in the floor or through thin or inappropriate flooring. Guardrails, safety nets and fall arrest systems should be in place to ensure the safety of construction workers.

New York State Statute Labor Law Section 240, also know as the “Scaffold Law,” was created to protect those who work at elevated heights.

The Scaffold Law places responsibility for your fall from a height on the third party (project owner, general contractor, or others) if the third party failed to furnish proper or non-defective safety devices to guard against the risks. The third party may also be responsible if your injury resulted from a falling object that was improperly secured. The third party is responsible for providing whatever safety lines, harnesses, guardrails, etc., are necessary to guarantee your safety while you are working at an elevation.

You Need an Experienced New York Ladder and Scaffold Accident Attorney

Regardless of what caused the accident, the injuries sustained from a ladder or scaffolding fall can be severe and you need an experienced team of ladder and scaffold accident attorneys to help you get the compensation you deserve.

If you or someone you know has been the victim of an injury due to a ladder or scaffold accident on a construction site in New York or New Jersey, you need knowledgeable and experienced New York/ New Jersey ladder and scaffold accident attorneys on your side. The attorneys at Gersowitz, Libo & Korek, P.C. have been winning cases involving people just like you for years.

Here’s how to reach us:

–For fastest service, call: 1-800-LAW-9997, or
–Fill out a New York Personal Injury Case Consultation form.

We’re eager to hear your story, answer your questions and lay out all of your available options. All at no risk and no cost to you. That’s right. Our consultations are completely FREE. So call us now at 1-800-LAW-9997.

We handle personal injury cases in New York and New Jersey.