Manuel Chuqiu Died in Accident at Multifamily Home in Jamaica Plain, Boston, After Falling From Scaffolding
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS (September 28, 2026) – A father of four identified as Manuel Chuqiu has tragically died in a Boston scaffolding accident outside of a multifamily home.
Boston police officials are saying that the accident occurred around 2:45 PM on Thursday. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the property on Weld Hill Street after receiving reports that an adult male fell several floors.
First responders began attending to the needs of Manuel Chuqiu. Despite life-saving measures, he was later pronounced deceased.
His daughter described him as a hard-working father who was always there for his family. Manuel Chuqiu is survived by his four children.
A full investigation by OSHA remains ongoing at this time.
DiBella Law remains committed to improving public safety and increasing transparency through our Free Police Report program. If you’ve been involved in any type of accident that required a police response, we can help you get a copy of the police report created at no cost or obligation to you.
Liability for Boston Scaffolding Accidents
When a worker is injured on the job, they will typically have recourse through the workers’ compensation system. This is a no-fault insurance scheme designed to help injured workers. An injured worker or their surviving family members may also be able to pursue damages through a third-party liability claim. A third-party liability claim may be possible if an entity separate from a worker’s employer contributed to an accident. With respect to scaffold accidents, courts will examine numerous factors when considering what third parties could be responsible.
- Assembly: It matters who assembled any piece of scaffold and whether or not it was properly inspected and maintained before the accident.
- Supports: Another important area of inquiry is whether the scaffolding had adequate supports and access points that met safety requirements.
- Guardrails: Courts will also review whether the scaffold had any required guardrails that could’ve prevented a worker from falling.
- Authority: Ultimately, one of the most important considerations is who was contractually responsible for identifying and correcting hazards at the worksite.
Business owners in Massachusetts have a legal obligation to provide workers with a reasonably safe environment that is compliant with all OSHA safety guidelines. A general contractor could potentially be liable for a workplace accident if they allowed a worksite to exist in a dangerous condition. Consider, for example, Corsetti v. Stone Co. A mason worker was seriously injured after falling roughly 40 feet down an elevator shaft. The cause of the accident was that the bracket supporting his scaffold platform suddenly gave way. Attorneys for the plaintiff argued that the general contractor was responsible for site safety and failed to install adequate fall protection systems that would’ve prevented the accident.
Preventing Scaffolding Falls and Seeking Accountability
Falls are one of the leading causes of preventable injury and death in the construction industry. According to one report by OSHA, there were 389 worker fatalities that involved a person falling to a lower level in the year 2024 alone. This accounted for roughly 40% of all construction fatalities that year. There are a number of measures that should be taken to prevent scaffold accidents.
- Employers should have trained workers assemble scaffold on a stable base.
- Employers must have a competent person inspect scaffolding before each shift and after any event that may affect its stability.
- Employers should provide guardrails along scaffolding in most circumstances.
- Employers should provide their workers with personal fall arrest systems if they are working at a height of 6 feet or higher.
- Employers should keep loads off of any scaffold to prevent them from becoming fall hazards.
The vast majority of scaffold accidents are entirely preventable and the result of clear lapses in safety standards. Perhaps one of the most common issues with these types of accidents is that the scaffold in question lacked the appropriate guardrails. It is important that victims of scaffold accidents understand that they do have legal rights. These rights extend to the surviving family of any person killed in a construction accident. They are able to seek some measure of accountability and transparency through a wrongful death claim.
Investigating Boston Scaffolding Accidents
We at DiBella Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Manuel Chuqiu. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to OSHA. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong so that other tragedies can be prevented. Many important questions still need to be addressed. Who is responsible for scaffold safety at this site? When was the last time the scaffold was inspected by a competent person?
Do you need more information about a scaffold accident in Boston? Our team of construction accident investigators is here for you. We understand all of the OSHA regulations and safety standards related to scaffold use on construction sites. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into the unique facts about your case, we are here to support you. You are always welcome to reach out to our office anytime at (617) 870-0907.