Labor Law
New York Labor Law 240 and 241: Scaffold Law Rights for Injured Workers
Jonathan Fuzailov, Esq.
September 29, 2026 · 5 min read
New York's Scaffold Law makes owners and contractors strictly liable for falls and falling objects. Most injured workers have never heard of it.
Labor Law 240: absolute liability for gravity risks
If you fell from a ladder, scaffold, roof, or platform — or were struck by a falling object that should have been secured — the property owner and general contractor are liable regardless of any carelessness on your part. The only question is whether proper safety devices were provided. Usually, they weren't.
Labor Law 241(6): the Industrial Code
Section 241(6) allows injured workers to sue owners and contractors for violations of specific safety regulations in the New York Industrial Code — covering everything from demolition and excavation to electrical work and housekeeping on site.
Why these claims matter so much
Workers' comp pays a fraction of lost wages and nothing for pain and suffering. A Labor Law claim recovers full lost earnings, future earning capacity, medical costs, and pain and suffering — and it proceeds at the same time as your comp benefits.
You don't have to be a construction worker
Labor Law protections extend to anyone doing covered work — repairs, renovation, cleaning, window washing — not just union trades. If you were hurt doing physical work on a building or structure, the law may apply to you.
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