How Common Are Electrical Accidents on Construction Sites?

Working in the construction industry comes with many risks. The ever-changing workplace may mean construction workers encounter various health and safety challenges. Sadly, many workers are injured on the job, and some don’t come home at the end of the day due to a fatal accident.

Suffering electrocution is something no one should experience, but many construction workers face this risk on construction sites. Construction workers are four times more likely to be electrocuted than those working in all other industries combined. 

Recovering from an electrical accident isn’t something a worker or their family should manage on their own. A Louisiana electrical accident attorney should be one of the first calls you make after seeking medical attention. A lawyer will help with the process by determining the cause of the accident and who should be held liable for the injuries. Construction workers face a higher risk of injury just by the fact that the construction industry is one full of physical labor tasks, high-risk encounters with specialized machinery, and a willingness to cut corners to save on costs. These workers need someone in their corner to fight for safe work conditions and compensation when they are injured.

As we take much of our society’s infrastructure for granted, we may forget the risk to those who work, ensuring that the infrastructure is sound and in good repair. Those who work around electricity each day help ensure our lifestyle is maintained. Did you know that 77% of the 325 contract worker electrocutions between 2012-2016 were of workers in the construction industry? Sixty percent of those electrocutions were the result of direct contact with electricity.

Focus Four Hazards

When stepping onto a construction site, four types of hazards account for nearly 60% of all the fatalities in the construction industry. These hazards are known as the Focus Four Hazards. 

Falls from elevation points such as scaffolds, ladders and roofs account for nearly 40% of construction fatalities. Falls, including from points of elevation and from the same level, are the most common cause of construction site deaths. 

Caught-in and between injuries may happen when trenches collapse or when rollover accidents happen. 

Struck-by fatalities occur when vehicles are involved and when workers are struck by flying objects, such as materials and equipment. 

Electrocutions are part of the Focus Four Hazards because of the persistence and significance of this hazard. How do electrocutions occur to workers? Coming into direct contact with electricity through overhead or underground power lines, unsafe lockout/tagout procedures, unsafe use of extension cords, inability to maintain a clear distance from power lines, failing to protect the power lines or being unable to de-energize the power lines.

Electrical Safety Violations

Each year, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspects thousands of construction sites, looking for safety violations that put construction workers at risk of being injured and potentially losing their lives. The top ten violations involve electrical safety issues. These violations may include incorrect or missing lockout or tagout procedures, safety issues associated with wiring methods and general unsafe electrical practices. 

The Center for Construction Research and Training shared that between 2003 and 2015, the number of workers who died due to electrocution decreased. Experts warn that this 40% decline could be due to a number of factors. Most likely, this decrease is due to an economic recession where fewer construction workers were working on construction sites and in the industry as a whole.

Our electrical accident lawyers understand how devastating electrocution can be for the person recovering and their family. The worker may no longer be able to work. There will be expensive medical bills and lost wages. Louisiana law recognizes that victims of electrocution are entitled to be made whole. Receiving compensation may help you and your family heal while physically recovering from this devastating injury. A victim of a Louisiana construction accident may be eligible to receive compensation for medical expenses, physical pain and suffering, permanent disability, emotional pain and suffering, scarring and disfigurement and loss of enjoyment of life.

After seeking medical treatment for an electrical accident injury, contact Herman, Katz, Gisleson & Cain by filling out our free, no-obligation case review form or call 504-581-4892 to discuss possible legal options. Working on a construction site should not mean you have to risk being injured or losing your life simply because of a job.