Workplace Electrical Accidents
In the United States, approximately 1,000 deaths every year are due to electrical accidents. The majority of electrical injuries occur in the workplace. Electrical accidents are one of the most common on the job injuries. Construction sites can be particularly dangerous due to exposure to buried and overhead power lines.
Some of the most common causes of electrical accidents include:
- Contact with high voltage power lines
- Inappropriate use of electrical equipment, such as outdoor exposure for an indoor only machine
- Misuse of electrical cords or tools
- Worn down insulation and exposed wires
Contact with high voltage electricity can result in burns, falls from elevation, and electrocution. There are a number of physical side effects resulting from electrical accidents. Cardiovascular complications, such as arrhythmias, can occur and cause serious health risks. The most common result of contact with electricity is burn injuries.
Types of burns resulting from electricity
There are a number of different burns a worker may sustain if he or she has been exposed to electricity on a job site. Some of these include:
- Arc burns: these occur from the point of electrical contact and along the start of the electrical pathway. They can occur in addition to other burns
- Flash burns: these are caused by the heat from a nearby electrical arc. They occur on the surface of the skin.
- Contact burns: These usually result in a sort of “branding” from the contacted item. They are similar to flash burns in appearance. The two can be differentiated by observing surface hair. Contact burns do not burn the hair but flash burns cause a singeing of the hairs.
- Flame burns: Caused when nearby clothing or objects ignite due to intense heat.
- Low voltage burns: these require many seconds of contact with low voltage electricity. They are similar to common thermal burns.
- High-voltage electrothermal burns: these burns typically occur at the contact point and ground point. They usually result in minimal surface damage but can cause severe damage to the underlying tissue. Surface burns cannot accurately indicate the significance of the internal injuries.
Contact Us
If you have been the victim of an electrical workplace accident, you may be entitled to claim workers’ compensation benefits. For more information, contact the Pennsylvania workers’ compensation lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. by calling 610-667-7511 today.