If you’ve been in the construction business for a while, you’ve probably seen, erected and used a lot of different kinds of scaffolds. When it comes to scaffold related injuries, and pursuing compensation for those injuries, the type of scaffold that hurt you matters. Also, the stage of scaffold use at the time of the injury matters.

First, let’s do a quick review of the different types of scaffolds that might be used in the New Jersey construction industry. These include:

• Coupler scaffolds
• System scaffolds
• Tube and coupler scaffolds
• Mobile scaffolds
• Fabricated frame scaffolds
• Suspended scaffolds

It would take too long to define and describe each of these scaffolds and what they’re used for in this short article. What’s important to note is that construction contractors must select the appropriate scaffold for the job in order to keep workers safe. Failure to choose the right scaffold is negligent and could result in injuries.

Second, let’s review the stages of scaffold use:

• The building and erecting stage
• The using and working stage
• The dismantling of the scaffold stage

Clearly, each of the above stages presents unique dangers. It’s vital for workers to receive safety training regarding each of the above stages in order to lessen the risks of accidents and injuries.

If you were hurt while using a scaffold at a New Jersey construction site, you can probably file a workers’ compensation to receive funding to pay for your medical care. You might also be able to get compensation for the time you spent unable to work due to your injuries. Finally, you may want to evaluate the circumstances of your injuries to determine if you can also file a third party personal injury claim against an at-fault party that is not your employer.