There are many factors that influence the severity of an electrocution injury including the amount of electrical current the worker is exposed to, the amount of current that flows through a worker’s body, whether the electrical current enters the worker’s body near his or her heart.
Electrocutions at work sites can result in very serious injuries and even fatalities. No matter how well prepared a worker is there is still a possibility that an electrocution accident can occur. Some of the professions that are at greatest risk of electrocution injuries include construction workers, electricians, HVAC installers, linemen, and utility workers.
Electrocution accidents are so common that the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration reports that 350 construction workers are fatally electrocuted on job sites each year.
Electrocution accidents can result in a variety of injuries including brain injuries, heart issues, electric burns, thermal contact burns, arc/flash burns, loss of hearing, nerve damage, neurological damage, and seizures.
There are many factors that influence the severity of an electrocution injury including the amount of electrical current the worker is exposed to, the amount of current that flows through a worker’s body, whether the electrical current enters the worker’s body near his or her heart. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration measures electrical current in milliamperes explanation units. A worker exposed to 1 milliamperes of electrical current would only feel a slight sensation, while a worker who is exposed to greater than 17 milliamperes would likely be severely injured.
Injured in an Electrocution Accident?
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There are many ways in which a worker can be electrocuted. The following are usually associated with most workplace electrocution accidents:
- Faulty Wiring Issues
- Downed Power Lines
- Exposed Electrical Parts
- Failure to Follow Manufacturer’s Instructions
- Improper Installation of Electrical Lines or Extension Cords
- Malfunctioning Equipment
- Lack of Ground-Fault Protection
- Overloaded Circuits
- Wet Conditions
The following are a few tips that employers and workers should consider when working with and around electricity:
- Avoid using electrical extension cords that are frayed or weathered;
- Never have a non-licensed professional attempt to repair or install an electrical device or electrical wiring;
- Never overload and electrical outlet with too many plugs;
- Do not use extension cords for long term purposes;
- Exercise extreme caution when fixing or using electrical devices near wet or damp conditions.
Massachusetts Workplace and Industrial Electrocution Accidents and Workmans’ Compensation Attorneys
Our Brockton workers’ compensation attorneys are able to secure the following benefits for injured workers and their families when workers sustain injuries for accidents that occur within the scope of the workers employment: Partial disability benefits, temporary total disability benefits, permanent and total disability benefits, death benefits, scarring and disfigurement benefits.
If you or a loved one has been injured while working with electricity, it is a wise idea to obtain the assistance of a skilled Boston work injury lawyer. Our Massachusetts Electrocution Accident lawyers represent the residents of Plymouth County including Brockton, Plymouth, Bridgewater, Marshfield, Hingham, Duxbury, Wareham, Abington, Rockland, Whitman, Hanson, Middleborough; Norfolk County including Quincy, Stoughton, Dedham, Weymouth, Braintree, Avon, Holbrook, Randolph, Canton, Sharon, Brookline, Franklin; Bristol County including New Bedford, Fall River, Taunton, Attleboro, Mansfield, Easton, Raynham, Norton; Cape Cod, Falmouth, Barnstable and the Greater Boston area including Cambridge, Lynn, Revere, Everett, Lawrence, Dorchester, Roxbury and Somerville.