A person employing or directing another to perform labor of any kind in the erection, repairing, altering, or painting of a house, building, or structure shall not furnish or erect for the performance of such labor scaffolding, hoists, stays, ladders, or other mechanical contrivances which are unsafe, unsuitable, or improper and which are not constructed, placed, and operated to give proper protection to life and limb of a person so employed or engaged. Scaffolding or staging swung or suspended from an overhead support more than twenty feet from the ground or floor shall have a safety rail of wood, properly bolted, secured, and braced, rising at least thirty-four inches above the floor or main portions of the scaffolding or staging and extending along the entire length of the outside and the ends thereof and properly attached thereto, and such scaffolding or staging shall be so fastened to prevent the same from swaying from the building or structure.
Source: L. 13: p. 448, § 1. C.L. § 4186. CSA: C. 97, § 117. CRS 53: § 80-16-1. C.R.S. 1963: § 80-13-1.