Hurt in a Fall from a Roof or Scaffold? Don’t Let Your Boss Blame You.
Construction work is dangerous. Falls from roofs and scaffolds are among the leading causes of serious injuries and deaths on job sites. If you’ve been injured in a fall, your employer might try to blame you for the accident. Don’t let them. In most cases, falls happen because someone else failed to follow safety regulations.
Who’s Really Responsible for Your Fall?
Employers have a legal obligation to provide a safe workplace. This means proper fall protection equipment, secure scaffolding, guardrails, and safety training. When these safeguards aren’t in place, workers get hurt. Your employer might claim you were careless or didn’t follow procedures, but the truth is often different. If they failed to provide adequate safety equipment or properly maintained scaffolding, they’re liable for your injuries.
OSHA regulations require specific fall protection for workers at heights of six feet or more in construction. Violations of these standards are common—and they’re the reason workers fall. Faulty equipment, improper scaffold assembly, missing guardrails, and inadequate training all point to employer negligence, not worker error.
Common Blame Tactics Employers Use
After a fall, employers often try to shift responsibility onto injured workers. Watch out for these common deflection tactics:
- Claiming you weren’t wearing your harness or safety equipment
- Saying you didn’t follow the training they provided
- Arguing you took unnecessary risks or ignored safety protocols
- Insisting you’re an experienced worker who should have known better
These are strategies designed to avoid liability. The reality is that if proper equipment wasn’t available, scaffolding wasn’t inspected, or safety protocols weren’t enforced, your employer created the dangerous conditions that led to your fall.
Workplace Safety When Roofs and Scaffolds Are Involved
Every job involving elevated work requires comprehensive fall protection systems. Guardrails, safety nets, and personal fall arrest systems aren’t optional—they’re mandatory. Scaffolds must be properly erected by qualified personnel and inspected daily. Roof work demands perimeter protection and hole covers. When contractors cut corners to save time or money, workers pay the price with their bodies and their livelihoods.
Hold Negligent Employers Accountable
You have rights under Ohio workers’ compensation law and potentially additional legal claims. Don’t accept your employer’s version of events without consulting an attorney. Insurance companies will try to minimize your claim or deny it entirely. You need someone fighting for your full compensation.
The Law Offices of Tim Misny can help you with your construction accident claim. When your employer’s negligence causes a serious fall injury, I’ll Make Them Pay!® Call my office at (877) 944-4373 so that I can evaluate your case right away.
