What Are the Most Common Causes of Workplace Electrocutions?

 Posted on November 25, 2021 in Workplace Injury

Electrocution injuries can be extremely serious, or even fatal. Electrical burns can cause permanent disfigurement and lead to long hospitalizations. Cardiac complications can result. Most workplace accidents are avoidable when reasonable precautions are taken. Employer negligence is often the cause of electrocution accidents on job sites. If you were electrocuted at work, you should speak to a workplace accidents lawyer immediately. Your attorney will want to conduct a complete investigation aimed at proving the cause of your accident so that you can recover compensation for your injuries, whether through workers’ compensation or another legal recourse.

What Types of Employer Negligence Cause Workplace Electrocutions?

Employers have a duty to keep their workplaces reasonably safe. Although certain industries, like construction, come with an increased level of risk, the employer must still take reasonable precautions to reduce the risk of injuries. Your workplace electrocution could have been caused by:

• Lack of safety gear - If you are working around any exposed wiring or electrical dangers, your employer should provide you with appropriate safety equipment.
• Improper insulation - Improperly insulated electrical wiring is extremely dangerous. Naked wires can cause serious injuries to anyone who comes in contact with them.
• Damaged equipment - Employers should have procedures in place for securing damaged and dangerous equipment until it can be restored to a safe condition in a timely fashion. Broken or worn-out electrical equipment may behave unpredictably and shock unsuspecting employees.
• Overloads - Overloading a single source of power can cause anyone using it to get electrocuted or can spark electrical fires. Extension cords, outlets, and other gear is only built to handle a certain amount of electrical current - beyond that, it becomes dangerous and can cause serious harm to workers.
• Negligent training - If you are going to be working around exposed electrical currents or other electrocution hazards, your employer must have ensured that you are adequately trained to perform the job safely. Allowing untrained employees around exposed wiring may put them at an unreasonable risk of harm.

If you got electrocuted at work, you will need to contact a qualified workplace accidents lawyer promptly. A thorough investigation may need to be undertaken promptly, while the accident scene is still largely untouched and the evidence is well-preserved. Waiting too long to call a lawyer can result in critical evidence being lost, hurting your odds of receiving compensation.

Call a Larimer County Workers’ Compensation Attorney

Hoggatt Law Office, P.C. is committed to fighting for workers who were injured due to their employer’s negligence. Our skilled Fort Collins workers’ compensation lawyers will aggressively pursue your claim and leave no stone unturned in our investigation. Call us at 920-739-7366 to schedule a free consultation.

Source:

https://www.osha.gov/electrical