Electrical Injury On the Job

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) report Worker Deaths by Electrocution (1998), an estimated 411 workers in the U.S. die each year due to "electrical contact" at their worksite - more than one per day. Thousands more are injured due to electrical shock and burns, which could lead to damage of the brain and nervous system, eyes, organs, and skin requiring extensive recovery time and even surgery.

There are four main types of electrical injuries that can result in death or major injury:

If you are working in construction or a similar trade where high voltage power lines and equipment are used, there are several different ways that you could be injured. Direct contact with an electrical source, contact through an aluminum ladder or other tool, contact through heavy machinery, electrical fires, faulty wiring, and defective tools can all result in injuries and fatalities on the job.

It is important to note that electrical shock and burn injuries do not necessarily require that the person come in direct contact with the power source. Sometimes electrical arcs can jump from an electrical box or equipment to a nearby worker and then to the ground, causing severe external and internal burns, and possibly death. In cases where machinery and vehicles touch high voltage power lines, the ground around the machine can become "energized," so that people near the machine but not touching it can still be electrocuted from the powerful current running beneath their feet.

The National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) outlines specific guidelines about how to work with and around electrical supplies and lines. Most if not all worksites have electrical service leading to them, and due to the nature of worksites these services may be "temporary" - but that does not mean that they should not be safe. Chapter 38 of the Utility Code in the Texas Statutes states explicitly that: "An electric utility and an electric cooperative shall furnish service, instrumentalities, and facilities that are safe, adequate, efficient, and reasonable."

You have the right to feel safe at work, and your employer, the power company, and tool manufacturers have the responsibility to make sure that your workplace is as safe as possible. But the truth is, this isn't always the case. Someone else's negligence could put you at risk of injury, or even death.

If you are injured on the job, Workers' Compensation may not cover all of your medical bills and lost time from work. And it certainly won't compensate your pain and suffering. Before you agree to any settlement or sign any documents related to your injury, contact the Personal Injury experts at Jim S. Adler & Associates. We have decades of experience helping workers injured on the job, including electrical shock injury and fatalities. Get a personal injury attorney from Jim S. Adler & Associates on your side, and get the compensation you need - and deserve - to cover your bills.

1-800-683-8383

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