Scaffold Law (New York)

The Scaffold Law is a New York State law that holds employers and property owners fully liable when an employee becomes injured due to a gravity-related fall while working at high elevations without proper safety equipment. The law was enacted in 19th century and is contained in New York State Labor Law § 240/241. Critics and politicians have blamed the law for driving up public construction costs in New York State. New York State is the only state that imposes an absolute liability penalty in gravity-related injury cases (Illinois repealed their similar law in 1995). rdf:langString