What is New York’s Labor Law 240?

New York’s Labor Law 240, commonly referred to as the Scaffold Law, was enacted by the legislature to provide protections for workers on construction sites due to the numerous challenges and dangers they face. This law places significant responsibilities on owners and contractors to ensure a safe environment for all workers at their sites. In the event of an accident where a violation of this law can be demonstrated, the owners and contractors will be held responsible. Labor Law Section 240 is considered a strict liability law, meaning that, with very few exceptions, the fault of the construction worker is not considered. The law places the burden of safety squarely on the owners and contractors, so in nearly all instances of an accident, they will be held accountable for the injuries suffered by the worker.