Scaffold Law refers to special workplace safety laws that hold property owners and general contractors strictly responsible when construction workers are injured in falls from heights or by falling objects. These laws exist in some states (most famously New York) and are designed to protect workers who do dangerous jobs like building construction, window washing, or painting tall buildings. Under these laws, if a worker falls from a scaffold, ladder, or roof and gets hurt, the property owner or contractor can be held liable even if they weren't directly careless.
What makes Scaffold Law different from regular injury cases is that the injured worker doesn't have to prove the owner or contractor did anything wrong - the law automatically makes them responsible for providing proper safety equipment and ensuring safe working conditions at heights. This gives construction workers much stronger legal protection than most other employees, since falls from heights are one of the leading causes of death and serious injury in construction work. However, these laws only apply in certain states and typically only cover specific types of height-related accidents on construction sites.
