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Work accidents involving electric shocks are one of the most deadly types of work accidents in the U.S. Oftentimes, workers who are exposed to electricity suffer catastrophic or fatal injuries, such as severe internal injuries and heart failure or cardiac arrest. In addition, workers who are working at heights when they come into contact with electricity often suffer serious orthopedic injuries. After the shock occurs, the worker is likely to fall to the ground, thus suffering orthopedic injuries including spinal injuries and fractures.
Coming Into Contact With an Overhead Line
There are multiple causes of electrical shock accidents at work. Many electric shock accidents often occur when a worker comes into contact with an overhead line. One very common situation involves a worker performing work near an overhead line and accidentally coming into contact with the line.
Workers, like tree trimmers who regularly work at heights, are particularly at risk for being injured or killed in electric accidents. In fact, each year, dozens of workers are injured or killed in work accidents involving contact with an overhead line. Tree trimmers, roof workers, and workers working on cranes are likely to come into contact with an electrical line.
In addition, workers on the ground may come into contact with overhead wires or lines. For example, a worker carrying a metal ladder at a commercial construction site may suffer an electrical shock when the ladder comes into contact with a live overhead wire.
OSHA Regulations & Overhead Wires
Working near an overhead line is very dangerous, especially if OSHA regulations are ignored, and they commonly are ignored. As an example, OSHA Regulation 1910.333(c)(3)(i)(A) imposes minimum distance requirements for those working near overhead lines. Under subsection (A)(1), workers at elevated positions (heights) must be able to clear 10 feet before coming into contact with any unguarded, live overhead line with voltages of 50kV or lower. At volts higher than 50kV, the minimum distance or clearance increases by 4 inches for every 10kV over 50kV.
Related Law Article: Electrical Accidents in Pennsylvania and New Jersey – Common OSHA Violations Resulting in Injury [Get information about OSHA regulations commonly violated in electric shock accidents in the workplace. By our electric shock injury lawyers.]
Who is Liable for an Electric Shock Accident at Work?
Work related electric shock accidents often occur at construction sites or major work sites which tend to involve ongoing work of many parties. Negligence of any one party can result in a work accident that injures another worker.
In electric shock accidents at work, multiple parties could be liable, such as:
- electric companies,
- contractors,
- subcontractors, and
- product manufacturers.
Proper investigation by a lawyer experienced in electric shock accident cases is crucial to success of the case, especially in cases of serious injury or death.
To submit your case for review by our electrical accident and injury lawyers, call Click To Call. Our firm has recovered over $100 million for injured workers.
Our lawyers are available for a free, no obligation legal consultation, and can obtain special admission in other states, such as New York or Delaware, on a case by case basis.
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