Protecting Your Rights After an Electrical Accident
Electricity has made our modern way of life possible, but it can be extremely dangerous when used improperly. Injuries resulting from electrical hazards often totally disrupt the lives of workers and their families. According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International, there have been 137 manufacturing-related fatalities stemming from contact with electrical current between 2003 and 2010.
Electrocution Causes
Improperly maintained equipment, faulty wiring, and unsafe work practices can lead to severe electrical accidents and electrocution injuries. Furthermore, workplaces that may be relatively safe in dry weather may become dangerous during wet conditions. Common workplace-related electrocution risks include:
- Improperly installed wiring
- Defective machinery
- Exposed wiring
- Ladders that conduct electricity
Electrocution Injuries
Electrical contact can lead to a wide range of severe physical injuries. These wounds may be long-lasting, and recovery can require substantial medical and financial resources. Injuries resulting from electrocution may include:
- Nerve damage
- Electric shock
- Burns
- Internal organ damage
- Ventricular fibrillation
- Death
Avoiding Electrical Accidents
Electrical accidents may be prevented through the use of insulation, guarding, and circuit protection.
Insulators such as glass, rubber, and plastic can be used to coat metals in order to stop or reduce the flow of electrical current. Guarding—enclosing electrical equipment to ensure that employees don’t accidentally come into contact with it—also helps. Fuses and circuit breakers can limit or stop the flow of current in the event of a ground fault, overload, or short circuit in the wiring system.
Compensation for Electrocution Injuries
Unfortunately, these safety measures won’t help if an employer attempts to cut costs by simply not providing them. If you’ve been harmed in an electrical accident at work, you have the right to receive workers’ compensation benefits. Workers’ compensation will cover your medical expenses and provide disability payments while you’re unable to work. It may also offer rehabilitation, retraining, and other benefits.
If you’ve been injured in a workplace electrical accident, you need an attorney you can count on to stand up for your rights. To contact the law offices of Steve M. Lee, P.C., just click the Live Chat button on this page.