Arizona construction workers have a lot of different factors at play when it comes to their overall safety on the job. Unfortunately, adding scaffolding to the mix can increase the risks these workers may face.
FindLaw takes a close look at scaffolding injuries in construction work, which are known to be among the more common types of physical injuries a construction worker can suffer from. A worker’s safety around or on scaffolding can be affected by many factors. This can include:
- Individual worker safety
- Equipment maintenance
- Safety precautions
- Hours worked
Individual worker safety can be connected to safety precautions, as one measure is to ensure all workers understand the dangers of the site they’re on and how to safely interact with scaffolding. Unfortunately, this doesn’t stop people from making rash decisions which can impact those around them, nor does it ensure these dangers will be discussed in the first place.
Equipment maintenance is related to whether or not the equipment used to build the scaffolding – as well as the scaffolding itself – are up to par. The structural integrity of scaffolding can easily be impacted if they aren’t.
The National Institutes of Health takes a look at the impact of construction worker fatigue on the overall safety of a construction site, too. This phenomenon is one in which construction workers – who often work long hours, or night shifts – aren’t getting enough sleep. Because of that, they’re more likely to make mistakes on the job, leading to an increase in accident and injury.
In combination with the dangerous height of scaffolding, these issues can create a deadly problem. Raising worker awareness may help to combat some of it, but that may not always be the case, unfortunately.
