Investigation Finds Immigrants and Workers on Scaffolding at Greatest Risk

By Danielle Briones

Published on July 22, 2005

The analysis was prepared by the New York State Trial Lawyers Association (NYSTLA) and was titled "Lives in the Balance -- Immigrants and Workers at Elevated Heights at Greatest Risk in Construction.

The report reviewed all construction site inspections conducted in the state during 2003.

Shoshana Bookson, NYSTLA president, said the study highlights the need to keep Section 240 of the state's Labor Law, which governs scaffolding safety, on the books.

She also said that in many cases, immigrant workers are not named on workers' compensation policies and lack health insurance, making the scaffold laws their only source of recompense when they are injured at a worksite in violation of scaffolding safety standards.

The study also recommends more rigorous enforcement of OSHA construction safety rules, and the hiring of more OSHA compliance officers who speak the same language as immigrant workers. It also recommends more worker safety training in languages spoken by immigrant workers.