Construction Site Accidents – Electrical Accidents

Electrical accidents are all too common on construction sites and occur mostly from contact with power lines or other power sources. Electrocutions are occurring more and more often on construction sites and are now the fifth leading cause of work-related death in the United States, making up 40 per cent of construction site deaths. However, not all electrical accidents are fatal. Many involve personal injuries including electric shock, electrical burns or damage to property due to electrical fires.

The primary cause of electrical accidents is defective or faulty electrical equipment – anything from power tools and motors to transformers, poor safety clothing, ladders and cranes coming into contact with power lines or even badly maintained or overloaded circuit breakers or wiring. In some cases accidents are caused by simple negligence. In such accidents, liability could rest with the equipment manufacturer, the construction company, the sub-contractors and in some cases the utility companies themselves.

Most electrical accidents can be avoided, and both employers and employees need to be vigilant. Simple solutions such a wearing protective clothing and rubber-soled shoes are easy to implement. Avoiding the use of frayed wires, not overloading electrical outlets, and keeping power tools away from water are also simple precautions. It is part of the mandate of the construction company or general contractor to sufficiently educate its workers and provide a safe working environment, one that is not prone to electrical accidents.

If you have been involved in an electrical accident in the workplace you may be entitled to compensation. This will be determined by the nature of the accident, your involvement and contribution towards the negligence (if there was any), and the level of safety that was applied to the work environment.

The company you are employed by may have insurance and compensation plans in place where dangerous work place conditions exist as part of the construction task, and the foreman or safety officer can advise you of your entitlement to a claim. In the first instance the onus lies with your employer to make due compensation; however, this may become complicated if the negligent party is a third party, such as the site owner. Your employer may be reluctant to represent your best interests.

The terms of compensation are subject to interpretation by the company and its insurance agents. If you feel that the offer of compensation is unfair or unsatisfactory, then you may need to turn to legal help to initiate a claim against your employer. An attorney can help you bring a claim against the company responsible without jeopardizing your job.