Electrocution can lead to serious injuries like heart complications, electrical burns, and intense pain. Also, electrical burns can lead to muscle, and tissue damage, amputation, nerve damage, cardiac arrest, and internal bleeding. The severity depends on the frequency of the electrical current, the strength of the current that passes through the body, and the length of time the body remains in the circuit.
A New York Construction Accident Lawyer will fight to get you the justice you deserve and the compensation required for your treatment and other non-economic damages.
To avoid these problems in the workplace, you need to create awareness among your workers about the dangers and sources of electrocution. You need to know what you are supposed to do and what you should not do when dealing with electricity. Electric shock can happen when you come in contact with a metallic part that has contact with an energized conductor, both wires of an energized circuit, or one wire of an energized circuit and the ground.
You will be liable if you’re an employer and a worker gets an injury while at your company. You should therefore ensure that the electrical appliances are well installed and that there are proper protective gears that will keep your employees safe when dealing with electrical appliances.
Make sure that you also hire a professional technician to inspect all electrical appliances regularly so that they can identify any fault that can cause electrocution and then repair it. This way, you will avoid any damages that come with electricity. You need to review the safety guidelines of your company.
Below are 8 common causes of electrocution in the workplace:
Faulty appliances can easily lead to electrocution. For instance, if an extension is cracked or the internal wiring is exposed, there can be a danger. Faulty appliances can cause electrocution if they’re not inspected regularly by an expert. Appliances should be well installed and used as recommended.
Safety gear is usually essential to reduce the chances of electrocution, especially when you are working on powered appliances. Some of the protective tools include;
If this equipment fails, it can lead to electrocution, which can cause serious injuries. For example, if you use gloves with small tears, there will be electrical conduction if there is skin contact. Electricians or power line technicians are at higher risk because their work revolves around powered appliances Therefore, if any of their safety equipment is damaged, it can lead to electrocution.
In the event of an accident, the owner of the workplace or the company is liable. They are supposed to compensate you if you’re electrocuted because they failed to ensure that their protective gear is safe. To get the compensation, you need to find a lawyer to help you file the claim. They understand the process required to file such a claim and make it successful.
There are precautions that a technician needs to follow when working around overhead power lines. Most technicians prefer a metal ladder since it is easy to maintain but can easily conduct electricity. Therefore, technicians need proper protective gear to avoid electrocution. For instance, the ladder can come into contact with overhead power lines, and without the proper safety gear, you can be electrocuted if you’re in contact with the ladder.
Technicians need to know about the functioning of the power lines, especially when conducting maintenance services, to avoid electrocution. They should know that overhead power lines are not usually insulated and can conduct electricity.
Water conducts electricity, so if it comes in contact with the electrical circuit, it can be dangerous. The impurities like salt in the water are the ones that make water a conductor of electricity.
For instance, one can pour water on a table or a desk at the workplace and then come into contact with an electric appliance like a hair dryer, which can cause electrocution. Therefore, it’s important to keep electrical appliances away from water and also avoid spilling water.
Most extensions are usually used in offices because you can hook up many appliances to one outlet. Electrocution can happen when the cords are overloaded, which happens if the appliances you have hooked up are taking up more electricity than the extension allows. It’s therefore important to know the limitations of each extension in the office to avoid electrocution, which can cause fire or a short circuit.
It can also cause electrocution to someone who is touching it. Electrocution can also happen if the cord is damaged, exposing internal wires, or if the cord has cracked. To avoid electrocution injuries, any damaged extension at the workplace should be checked for problems.
Energized equipment is those that have an output that is higher than 50 volts. Workers should be aware of some things, such as avoiding energizing equipment that can cause injuries. They should have some awareness about energization and de-energization to avoid electrocution. The company will be held liable if it fails to provide information involving energized equipment that can cause electrocution.
To deal with electricity, you need some physics knowledge. For instance, you need to know that electricity should run in a closed circuit, so if the circuit is open, it can cause electrocution. A ground fault occurs when the electrical current in a circuit fails to go back to its intended path, which is the panel, and instead is redirected to the ground. If you touch a live wire, you will be electrocuted.
It is important to ensure your appliances or high-quality wires have no moisture and are well insulated. Avoid having direct contact with wires that are not insulated to avoid electrical injuries. Without knowledge, you can touch them and get electrocuted. You can also use protective gear to avoid the shock.
Some people prefer using DIY methods, thinking that it is a safe method. When trying to fix the electricity without knowledge, you can easily be electrocuted. The injuries can be severe, so it is important to hire a professional to avoid them. Don’t underestimate the complexity of dealing with electricity.
Interfering with or fixing electrical issues without any knowledge is dangerous to you and other people in the workplace. Companies should hire experts to reduce the risk of any injuries. Otherwise, you will have to compensate every worker who has been affected by the electricity.
Faulty wiring happens when equipment is poorly installed or poorly maintained. Therefore, companies should hire professionals to conduct inspections on regular occasions. If there are any risks, they should repair them before it’s too late. The best thing about an expert is that they can easily spot any flaw.
There are some instances where you find that a company has done wiring temporarily and then they will do it permanently later, which is risky. Due to lazy habits, temporary wiring can become permanent. Therefore, they can cause electrocution at any time, which can cause serious damage, including burning. It is also not safe for the workers at that company.
Sometimes you find that electrical appliances at the workplace have uninsulated openings. They sometimes have a reason for that, but it is very unsafe for people in the company. To avoid these dangers, companies should give warnings to their employees so that they know how to handle them. Workers should be provided with protective gear to protect them against electrocution.
You should avoid putting your fingers or other objects into an electrical socket. You should also not touch faulty appliances or electrical cords, or overload electrical outlets.
Here are some of the signs and symptoms of electrocution;
When you notice any of these symptoms, you should seek medication.
In case you get into any electrocution accidents at the workplace, ensure that you inform your lawyer. The company is liable for the accidents, and they are required to compensate you. It can be difficult to file a claim when you don’t know what you’re doing. Hire a professional attorney to help you with the process required to file a claim.
You only need to have the evidence, which can include pictures of the injuries and the place of injury. With the evidence, they will see the severity of the injuries and know how much you deserve in compensation. They have also dealt with similar cases, so they have the necessary knowledge regarding the rights and legal process to follow. They can also represent you in court.
It’s important for all workers and everyone accessing the company to be aware of the causes of electrocution. They should be aware of the company guidelines regarding all the appliances at the workplace. With this knowledge, they will know what to avoid and what they should do when dealing with any appliance at the workplace.
They should also be trained on how to use protective gear when dealing with electricity. It is crucial so that you can reduce the rates of electrocution in the workplace, which can lead to severe damage like burns and severe injuries.
Electric shocks cause electrocution. To avoid it, you need to be aware of the causes and outcomes. Electrocution can lead to severe damage and injuries.
An example of powerline equipment contact is when a metal ladder comes into contact with the powerline. The powerline wiring is usually not insulated, so it can cause an electrical shock to everyone who is in contact with the ladder.
Here are some of the causes of electrical shock;
The difference between electrocution and electric shock is that electrocution is the severe injuries caused by an electric shock, while electric shock is the electrical current that passes through the body. A severe electrical injury can lead to death.
It is caused when electricity or even improperly maintained equipment comes into contact with your skin. It causes mild or even severe burns. It can also lead to death. There are three types of electrical burns: arc burns, thermal contact burns, and electrical burns. Arc burns occur when an electrical current passes from a high-resistance area to a low-resistance area, and the burns happen mostly during welding. During these burns, there is no direct contact with the electricity.
Thermal contact happens when electricity causes fire. It can cause a fire if it comes into contact with explosives or some mixtures in the air. Electric fire can cause severe damage and injuries. Dust, gases, overheated conductors, and the accumulation of combustible vapors are some of the things that can start a fire. There are various levels of electric burns, which include;
The symptoms include;
It is also known as a third-degree burn. The symptoms include;
The severity of electrical burns depends on various things, like the voltage of the electricity, how long it was in contact with the body, and how much it was in contact. Treatment depends on the results of the physical examination and the history of the affected person. Tests can also be conducted if the burns are severe to determine the extent of the burns. Some of those tests include;
Ask your friends and family to get genuine answers. You can also visit the law firms’ websites and social media platforms to see reviews from previous clients. If they provide quality services, you should consider hiring them to increase your chances of winning your case.
You should ensure that the lawyer or law firm you are dealing with has a current license number. To be sure, you should ask for the license document. If they hesitate to provide the document, then you should not hire them.
Expert attorneys must have the right certifications to prove they are qualified lawyers. They have enough knowledge of what is required to win the case and get the compensation you deserve.
Professional lawyers should have some experience so that they can have the knowledge and skills to deal with different and more complex cases.
To avoid electrocution, the owner of the company should;
Gregory Spektor & Associates P.C. is one of the best law firms in, NY. We provide work-related injury services to ensure that you are fully compensated. We will help you with every step required to file a claim. Our attorneys have a vast experience in the legal industry and also have a wide knowledge of dealing with any kind of injury case at the workplace, including electrocution. We handle even more complex cases. We also offer a free consultation.
There are different kinds of injuries that happen at the workplace, and they include bank injuries, dental injuries, broken hips, shoulder injuries, shoulder impingement, and spinal fusion. Others include knee injuries, hernia injuries, knee injuries, back injuries, trigger finger injuries, foot and ankle injuries, wrist injuries, meniscus tears, electrocution injuries, degenerative bone disease, and many more.
We believe in integrity and honesty when dealing with our clients. We ensure that we follow a legal process and get you the compensation you deserve. We have a great reputation and ensure that we provide the best results to all of our customers. For effective and successful work-related legal representation, contact us today.
