ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Scaffold Law (New York)

The scaffold law is a law in the state of New York that is designed to protect construction workers who work at heights, such as on scaffolds, ladders or roofs. The law requires that certain safety measures are taken to protect workers from injuries caused by falls or falling objects.

Imagine you and your sibling are building a really big tower using blocks. You are on a chair trying to reach the top of the tower while your sibling is holding the blocks for you. Now, imagine if you slipped and fell off the chair because it was wobbly, or if your sibling accidentally dropped the blocks on your head while you were building the tower. That would be dangerous and you could get hurt badly.

Now imagine if the grown-ups came around and said that you and your sibling should have a safe and sturdy chair to stand on, your sibling should wear a hard hat, and they should make sure the blocks are secure and not wobbling. This would help keep you both safe and prevent any accidents from happening.

This is what the scaffold law is for construction workers. It says that the workers should have safe equipment to work on, like scaffolds and ladders that are secure and won't tip over. They should also wear hard hats and other protective gear to keep them safe. If anything goes wrong and they get injured, the law says that the employer is responsible for making sure that all the safety measures were taken properly.

Overall, the scaffold law in New York is important because it helps protect construction workers who work at heights and prevents accidents from happening.