It requires special training and a unique skill set to become an electrician. Unfortunately, even the most highly skilled and careful electrician can be injured or even killed on-the-job when exposed to one of many dangerous hazards. Electrical shock, burns, and falls are all potentially fatal in this line of work.
With decades of experience representing electricians and work injuries victims, Murphy Law Firm is your go-to law firm in the Great Falls, MT, Billings, MT, and Missoula, MT areas. Our skilled team of lawyers will fight for fair compensation for your work injury to cover medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other expenses.
Electrical Industry Job Hazards
Electricians face a number of on-the-job hazards, including:
Electrical Shock
The severity of an injury resulting from electrical shock will vary depending on how much and for how long the current passes through the body. Currents exceeding 10 mA can freeze muscles, which makes a person unable to release a wire, tool, or other object they are working with.
This increases exposure to the current, which can result in respiratory paralysis (usually at about 30 mA). Currents above 75 mA cause a rapid and ineffective heartbeat, which, unless treated with a defibrillator, will be deadly within minutes. At 4 amps, heart paralysis will occur, meaning the heart will not pump. At 5 amps, tissue will be burned.
Non-fatal electrical shocks, which happen most often in the hands, tend to result from hands coming in contact with electrical wire or other equipment. These require immediate medical attention to prevent permanent damage.
Burns
Electrical burns, which occur as a result of contact with an electrical source, cause about 1,000 fatalities every year in the United States. They harm tissue and internal organs, as well as cause burns to the skin. Once out of harm’s way, a patient should be assessed for injuries. If any threat of internal injury exists, the patient should be taken immediately to a medical facility for treatment. If the patient cannot breathe, CPR should be administrated. Burns should be cooled down under running water, and loosely covered to avoid infection.
Falls
It is not uncommon for an electrical worker to fall from a ladder or another height while wiring. While falls are often a primary cause of injury, they can also be a secondary cause, should a worker be exposed to an electrical current that causes a loss of balance and coordination.
Overexertion and Stress
While shock, burns, and falls are top causes of fatal workplace injuries in this industry, electricians also commonly suffer from overexertion and repetitive stress on the hands, fingers, back, and knees. Using force to operate a tool, bending, stooping, holding vibrating tools, remaining in one position for a long time, and awkward positioning all contribute to debilitating and painful injuries. In some cases, they can be career ending.
Contact Our Law Firm
If you are an electrical worker who has suffered a shock, burn, fall, repetitive motion, or any other kind of injury, reach out to Murphy Law Firm. Our experienced workers’ compensation attorneys will work diligently on your behalf while you focus on recovering from your injuries. To learn more about our practice and how we can help, visit us online or call (406) 452-2345 today.