Introduction
When scaffolds are improperly erected or used, they present significant fall hazards for workers. Approximately 2.3 million construction workers use scaffolds regularly, and improving scaffold safety could prevent an estimated 4,500 injuries and over 50 fatalities each year.
Improperly erected or maintained scaffolds are a major cause of workplace accidents. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), when OSHA revised its scaffolding standard in 1996, it was found that 25% of workers injured in scaffold-related incidents had not received any scaffold training, and 77% of scaffolds lacked guardrails necessary for fall protection.
A more recent BLS study revealed that 72% of scaffold-related injuries occurred because of one of the following:
- Planking or support failures
- Workers slipping on scaffold surfaces
- Being struck by falling objects
These findings highlight the critical importance of proper training, guardrail installation, and inspection to ensure scaffold safety on every job site.