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Electrocution victim prompts new NIOSH guidelines

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) instituted a number of recommendations for employers after a painter was electrocuted on the job. The 59-year old victim, who had only been on the job for six weeks, was found slumped over in the electrical lift in which he was working while painting a conveyor. Workers performed CPR until EMS arrived 10 minutes later, but the man was pronounced dead at the hospital.

A NIOSH investigation found that the victim and a co-worker had repeatedly told a supervisor that they were receiving minor shocks from the conveyor. The workers and the supervisor all apparently thought that it was due to the 20+ welders who were also working on the same conveyor. The supervisor said that he would check the “grounds on the welders.” The two painters went back up the lift, but still felt shocks from the conveyor.

The electrocution incident occurred shortly after the two men had come down from the lifts to refill their paint. A worker noticed the victim slumped in the corner of the lift and called to the victim’s son, who was also working on-site. The son climbed up to bring him down and reported that he felt a “pronounced shock” when touching his father. Once the victim was down from the lift, the supervisor took the son away while workers performed CPR.

After the investigation, the NIOSH team concluded that the victim had been electrocuted by the conveyor as a “secondary” source since it was not directly powered. The primary source was not determined, though an improperly spliced and ungrounded extension cord was present on the lift. None of the welding tools used along the conveyor were available for inspection, and one of these could have also been the primary source.

NIOSH provided six recommendations following this tragedy:

Employers should conduct thorough investigations when workers report mild shock, and immediately implement appropriate corrective measures.
Employers should provide effective electrical grounding of all conductive assemblies and structures.
Employers should provide a thorough inspection of all electrically powered tools and equipment prior to, and periodically during, their use at the work site.
Employers should provide ground-fault circuit interrupter protected power circuits for all electrically powered hand-tools and equipment used on construction sites.
Employers should advise employees of the shock hazard when contacting a suspected electrocution victim.
Employers should provide, as part of the emergency response program, an assurance that injury work sites remain as undisturbed as possible to facilitate a safe, prompt, and comprehensive incident investigation.

If you have been injured due to electrical shock while working on the job, contact Jim S. Adler & Associates for a free case assessment. Employers are fully responsible for the safety of their workers. Accidents do occur in dangerous occupations including construction, but the vast majority of them could have been prevented. Negligence, ignoring of rules and regulations, and improper equipment maintenance all contribute to increasing the risk of a serious or fatal accident. You deserve compensation for your injuries, no matter what the cause. Let Jim S. Adler & Associates help you get it.