Electricity has become a necessity of modern life. State services may intervene in families where adults do not provide electricity for their families. Companies may not be able to operate without reliable electrical power.
Electrical wiring is a key component of most construction projects, and businesses of all sorts have both permanent and temporary electrical supply needs while doing business. Exposure to electricity is therefore a common hazard for employees across all different professions.
Professionals who work with electricity and wiring and those soon completely unrelated professions, like office workers, can end up injured by electricity while working. The following are the most common injuries associated with electrical exposure on the job.
Painful burns
Electrical burns can occur due to direct exposure to damaged power sources. Anyone exposed to electricity may have burns at the point of contact and where the flow of electricity exited their body due to grounding. Those burns can be painful on their own and can lead to significant scarring. Electrical burns can diminish work capabilities and can lead to disfigurement in some cases.
Falls and dropped objects
One of the most common reactions to electrical shock is a sudden loss of strength or consciousness. Individuals may temporarily lose consciousness, leading to a fall. Particularly when workers perform their jobs at a significant elevation, the shock that occurs after exposure to electricity could put them at risk of severe injury or even death. They could also potentially drop items that could lead to people below them sustaining severe injuries.
Cardiac arrest
One of the worst-case outcomes for an electrical shock scenario is exposure to a current so strong that it stops the human heart. Those working with electrical supply or exposed to high voltage on the job could experience cardiac consequences due to their exposure to electricity. In some cases, people may die from the cardiac damage caused by electrical exposure. Other times, they may need immediate emergency intervention to resuscitate them and stabilize their condition.
Workers exposed to electricity on the job may require extensive medical care and a long-term leave of absence while they recover. In some cases, nerve damage and other lingering consequences, like scars, may limit their future functional abilities. Pursuing a workers’ compensation claim is often necessary for those injured by electricity at work. Benefits can help cover their treatment costs and replace their lost wages after electricity injures them on the job.
