Preventing Electrical Accidents

Hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries occur every year as a result of electrical accidents at work, and most of these types of accidents can be prevented.

Some important things to keep in mind about electrical accidents:

• Normal workplace or household current can be lethal. 
• Electrocution can occur as the result of contact with seemingly innocuous objects, such as a broken light bulb. 
• Overloaded electrical circuits can cause fires. 
• Electricity always travels to ground, and a person can be the conduit for the electricity to ground. 

Case study: Meuser & Associate represented an individual who worked at a manufacturing facility. The normal maintenance person was gone for the day, so our client was asked to change a fluorescent bulb that had burned out. He had no electrical training, and had not been trained how to change a fluorescent bulb. He got on a metal ladder to reach the bulb, and suffered a severe shock injury when he came into contact with the electrical connectors. He also fell from the ladder as a result of the shock. Our client sustained burn injuries on his hand and feet, and suffered from memory loss and concentration difficulties following the injury. As a result of falling off the ladder, he also injured his knee and his back. He required significant emergency medical care, and missed several months from work. Thankfully, our client ultimately recovered with few residual effects from the injury, and he was able to return to work with his employer.

Some tips to avoid electrical accidents:

• Don’t use cords or wires with damaged insulation. 
• Don’t use electrical tools or equipment that smokes, sparks, shocks, smells, blows a fuse, or trips a circuit. 
• Don’t use any non-GCFI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlet in a wet area. 
• Don’t use cords with bent or missing grounding plugs. 
• Don’t use metal ladders or tools when working near electricity. 
• Don’t use water to extinguish an electrical fire. 
• Don’t touch anything electric when your hands are wet, if you’re standing on a wet floor, or when you’re in contact with a wet surface. 
• Don’t touch an electrical shock victim. 
• Don’t place cords where they can be damaged. 
• Don’t place cords near heat or water. 
• Don’t place nails or sharp fasteners on electrical cords. 
• Don’t permit overloaded outlets or circuits.
• Don’t permit blind reaches into any areas containing energized parts. 
• Don’t permit combustible trash on or around electrical equipment or circuits. 
• Don’t permit anyone who isn’t trained and qualified to repair electrical equipment. 
• Don’t permit unauthorized removal of a lockout device or tag. 

If you’ve sustained an on-the-job electrical injury, you may be eligible for Minnesota workers’ compensation benefits, including medical expense benefits, wage loss benefits, permanent partial disability benefits, and/or rehabilitation benefits. For a free, no-obligation case consultation, contact Meuser & Associate at 877-746-5680, or click here to send us an email.

Electrocution Injuries and Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Almost all workers are exposed to the dangers of electric shock and electrocution in the workplace, although construction workers, and electrical and cable professionals are at the most risk of electrocution injury.

Approximately 1,000 people in the United States are killed annually as the result of electrocution. Power line accidents account for almost 1/3 of all fatal electrocutions. Electrocution burns are the most common electrical related injury, and approximately 3,000 people suffer electrical burns each year in the United States.

Depending on the power, the path, and the duration of the electrical shock, a worker can suffer a variety of injuries as a result of an electrical accident:

Cardiovascular: An electric shock can stop the heart or cause fibrillation of the heart rhythm, both of which are lethal if not treated immediately, and permanent damage to the heart may also occur.

Respiratory: If electrical current passes through the chest, it can cause respiratory arrest. Respiratory arrest can also occur if the respiration-controlling area of the brain is affected by the electrical shock.

Neurological: The spinal cord or brain can be damaged if the electrical current passes through the brain or spinal cord. Victims of electrocution often suffer secondary brain injuries or spinal cord injuries if they fall from a height after being electrocuted.

Musculoskeletal: If the electrical shock causes prolonged muscle contraction, it can cause muscle damage in the effected body part. Body parts in contact with the power source or the ground, or touched by an arch flash are often severely and deeply burned.

Other injuries: Some injuries caused by electrical shock are not always immediately apparent, such as hearing or vision damage. Some individuals may also suffer from mental symptoms following an electrical injury, such as depression, memory loss or confusion.

Electrocution injuries can be severe and complex. You may require extensive medical treatment. You may miss significant time off work, or you may be disabled from returning to work.

If you’ve suffered an electrocution injury as a result of your work activities, you may be eligible for Minnesota workers’ compensation benefits. These benefits help cover your expenses after an on-the-job injury, and can include medical expense benefits, wage loss benefits, permanency benefits, and/or vocational rehabilitation benefits. After a severe electrocution injury, an experienced Minnesota workers’ compensation attorney can assist you get the benefits you’re entitled to, and help protect your rights.

For a free, no-obligation case consultation, call Meuser & Associate at 877-746-5680, or click here to send us an email.