Dangers Of Electrocution Accidents At Construction Sites

Any source of electricity can lead to serious risk when there’s a lack of proper safety measures. In construction sites, electrocution accidents are considered deadly hazards. However, construction workers, electricians, and non-electricians are coming face-to-face with this risk. 

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) includes electrocution accidents in construction works as one of the “fatal four” accidents leading to construction workers’ deaths. 

Suffering from electrocution is something that no worker should experience. While some contractors and employers don’t pay much attention to electrical hazards, one can always turn to a construction accident lawyer for legal assistance. One should know that if a third party is responsible for the injury, they can file a lawsuit for damages and compensation. 

What Are Electrocution Accidents 

Electrocution accidents or electric shocks are serious injuries that can also prove to be fatal. This injury occurs when an electric current runs through the body. This can happen due to direct contact with a live wire or electrical point. This can also happen when you are in contact with a downed power line. 

There are also other ways you can get involved in an electrocution accident. However, at a construction site, it can occur due to: 

• Coming in contact with a downed power line
• Touching frayed or faulty electrical cord 
• When a tool comes in contact with an electrical socket 
• Touching an overloaded electrical outlet

There are chances that a person who has come in contact with an electric current may show the following signs: 

• Burns 
• Breathing difficulty or irregularities 
• Vision issues 
• Loss of consciousness
• Cardiac arrest 
• Seizures 
• Numbness and tingling 

Precautions To Take When Handling A Co-Worker With Electrocution Accident

If you witness someone experiencing an electrocution accident: 

• Immediately call emergency help and do not touch the individual. This is because you may risk passing the electric current to you. 
• If you can spot an electric source, make sure you turn it off. Remember to do it only if it does not pose any risk. Ensure you use non-conducting material that does not let you come into contact with the current yourself. 
• Bring the victim to a safe area, away from the electric current source – make sure you do it only if you deem it safe. Avoiding another electrocution accident is a priority as well.  
• Lay the victim down, elevate their legs and head slightly above their chest. The head should be above the trunk of the body. 
• Once you confirm that you and the victim are safe, check their pulse and begin CPR only if you find it is required. 
• If you see any wounds or bleeding, do not treat it alone. Wait for professionals to come to help you. 

Common Causes Of Electrocution Accidents

Every worker in a construction site is exposed to dangerous amounts of electrical currents. Coming into contact with an electric current while working at the construction site can cause severe injuries, damages, and even death. These electrical accidents can put a worker’s life at immediate risk. 

• Contact with power lines when digging or working in the ground.
• Use of faulty work equipment or damaged power tools
• Poor ground fault circuit interrupter for wet ground protection
• Contact with downed or low-hanging power lines
• Improper ground electrical wiring
• Contact with uncovered and live wires. 
• Improper use of extension and flexible cords
• Overloaded circuits and faulty electrical outlets
• Inadequate training of construction workers
• Lack of ground-fault protection for workers
• Indirect contact with wiring and live electrical equipment 

Increased awareness and training can help prevent electrocution accidents in construction sites. For instance, electrical safety training is for electrical specialists and all construction laborers, roofers, and service workers on the construction site. 

All contractors and subcontractors have to ensure the health and safety of their workers. Contractors are required to make their workers aware of all electrical lines, both overhead and underground. But when they fail to adhere to this, they can be legally responsible for risking the lives of their workers.

Serious Electrocution Injuries Suffered By Workers

Not all exposure to electrical currents on construction sites is fatal. But these electric shocks can lead to severe injuries – and some workers may even suffer long-term and life-threatening conditions. These accidents can affect a worker’s respiratory, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and central nervous system. 

Some electrocution accidents can lead to: 

• Severe electric burns
• Cardiac arrest
• Vision difficulties 
• Hearing loss
• Fractures 
• internal organ damage
• Spinal cord injuries 
• Head injuries
• Muscle impairment 
• Nerve damage and seizures
• Neck and back injuries caused by falls
• Total or partial paralysis

Since these injuries are severe and debilitating, it’s one reason why electrocution settlements tend to be higher than other injury settlement claims. 

Consult With A NYC Construction Accident Lawyer Today

Whether you suffered injuries or lost a loved one from an electrocution accident, reach out to an experienced construction accident lawyer. Understand that you can seek settlement and compensation for what you suffered. A lawyer will fight for your rights and represent you at every stage of the legal process.

An attorney will investigate the cause of the accident to determine the fault of the negligent party. Your lawyer will find evidence that someone else caused your accident so you can receive damages for disfigurement, lost income, medical expenses, and pain and suffering. 

Safety Tips For Electrical Safety

The electrical accidents that occur within a construction site cannot necessarily be avoided. However, in some places, the contractor and other workers have the ability to control electrocution accidents. This involves taking safety measures to control it. These may look like as follows: 

• Do not use electrical equipment when standing in water. Make sure you are either emptying the area or drying the area if it is not a spill. 
• Always be careful when working around power sources.
• Do not be under the impression that overhead wires do not carry electricity. Make sure you are not touching them. Keep ten feet between the powerline and you to maintain safety. 
• Do not go into repair work unless you are 100% sure of how to fix it. Only if you have sufficient knowledge and expertise should you repair cords safely. 
• Follow the instructions and warnings when using electrical equipment. 

These are some of the basic safety tips that can help prevent electrocution accidents. Furthermore, helping you completely eliminate them if you follow it diligently. 

Conclusion

Electrocution accidents can be prevented with the help of proper precautions and safety measures in the workplace. Construction sites are dynamic places that can attract the most number of accidents. Electrocution accidents are most common in construction sites. 

Lastly, with the help of safety tips and a few precautions, you can prevent such fatal accidents quite easily. 

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