Targeting accident prevention: Scaffolds are a common source of
accidents in electrical construction; in South Carolina, a
34-year-old electrician fell 12 feet to his death from a mobile
scaffold. The circumstances in the case illustrate the purpose
for a number of Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) scaffolding requirements and demonstrate that employers
must focus their safety efforts on specific hazards facing their
employees. The company had been contracted to install the
electrical system for a new shopping mall complex under
construction. The company, which was in business for 70 years,
had been on-site for four months. At the job site in question,
there were 17 workers, including electricians, helpers,
supervisors and the job site superintendent. Each new hire
received a handbook containing the safety rules of the company.
Weekly safety meetings were conducted on-site by the job
superintendent, who is responsible for safety. At the time of
the accident, the electrician (the victim) and