Electrocution at Work.

Electric Shock at Work Compensation Solicitors.

Electrocution is serious injury or death caused by an electric shock, which is when an electrical current passes through the body.

The severity of an electric shock injury typically varies depending on the amount of voltage passing through the body; generally speaking, the higher the voltage, the more severe the injuries.

We who work closely with electricity and electrical equipment, such as cleaners, engineers, mechanics, hairdressers, and construction workers, are at increased risk of electric shock injuries. All employers owe a duty of care to their employees to ensure that they are able to carry out their jobs as safely as is reasonably possible, and any breach in this duty of care could have dire consequences.

If you or a loved one have been severely, or fatally, injured in an electric shock accident you may be entitled to make a claim for personal injury compensation. If the accident was caused due to somebody else’s negligence the law is on your side, and we can help you to seek justice and receive financial compensation.

We understand that no amount of money can ever truly make up for what has happened to you and your family, but a compensation award can help to pay for specialist treatment, cover the costs of home and/or vehicle adaptations after your accident, and alleviate the financial stress of having to take extended time off work.

Here at Lanyon Bowdler our specialist team of personal injury solicitors have a wealth of experience handling cases involving serious injury or death. With our knowledge, expertise, and empathy, we’ll make a valuable addition to your team, and together we can achieve justice.

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What is an Electric Shock Injury?

An electric shock injury is an injury which is caused by the body becoming exposed to an electric current. There are several different types of electric shock injury, also referred to as electrocution, including:

  • Electric shock – Electricity enters the body and is conducted through the body on its way to the earth. As the current flows through the body it can block the signals between the brain and muscles, resulting in spasms, irregular heartbeat, cardiac arrest, or breathing difficulties.
  • Electrical burns – As electricity passes through the body it heats the tissue it encounters, resulting in burns that can cause both temporary and permanent damage within the body.
  • Loss of muscle control – When touching something that hurts, the natural reaction is to pull away. However, an electric shock can cause muscular spasms making you tighten your grip, thus allowing for the electricity to do more damage to the body.

Your Electric Shock Compensation Questions Answered

What are the most common causes of electrocution in the workplace?

If you are required to work with electricity or electrical appliances your employer has a duty of care to ensure that all equipment is safe to use, and that you have been provided with adequate training and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to carry out your job as safely as possible.

If your employer fails to uphold their duty of care, an electric shock accident could occur due to the following reasons:

  • Exposed electrical components – Exposed wires, damaged plug sockets, faulty light switches etc are commonly found on construction sites and may lead to injury if your employer has not carried out an appropriate risk assessment and implemented the relevant policies and procedures.
  • Power surges – If the circuit board is tripping it may need to be replaced, and can end up being too powerful for the equipment it is powering, which can cause power surges, possibly resulting in an electric shock.
  • Liquid hazards – Electrical equipment can be exposed to liquids in some workplaces, for example machinery left out in the rain, or the use of jet washers to clean the workplace. If water gets into the electrics it can cause a short circuit and potentially an electric shock.
  • Improper earthing – Electrical equipment should be connected to the ground for safety, for example the green and yellow wire in a plug is the earth wire. Any equipment that isn’t ‘earthed’ becomes ‘live’ and can cause electrocution.
  • Poorly maintained equipment – It is your employer’s responsibility to ensure that any electrical equipment in the workplace is regularly serviced and maintained. By doing so, any potential hazards like loose wires can be repaired before they become a danger to employees.

If you have been involved in a workplace accident caused by one of the above examples, or have been electrocuted at work for any other reason, and it wasn’t your fault, please get in touch with our specialist personal injury team to discuss how we can help you to seek justice and claim the compensation you deserve.

What kind of electrocution injuries are there?

Being on the receiving end of an electric shock can cause a variety of different injuries, depending on the level of voltage which surges through the body, the part of the body through which the current enters and leaves, how long the current flowed through the body, and whether your body was damp at the time. Even shocks from as little as 50 volts can cause interference with the signals between the brain and muscles, thus affecting movement.

The type of injuries most commonly caused by electric shock include:

  • Cardiac arrest
  • Breathing difficulties
  • Muscle spasms
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Burns of varying degrees
  • Fractures and broken bones
  • Joint dislocation
  • Damage to nervous system
  • Damage to muscles
  • Loss of appendages/limbs
  • Brain damage
  • Tissue necrosis

Some of the injuries caused by an electric shock are immediate, and some occur after the event and can develop into long term health problems. Very high voltage shocks can even prove fatal. If you or a loved one have been injured, or sadly killed, in an electric shock accident at work we can help you, please get in touch to find out more.

Should electrocution accidents be reported through RIDDOR?

The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases, and Dangerous Occurrences Regulation 2013 (RIDDOR) is a piece of legislation which was introduced to improve the safeguarding of workers at increased risk of injury and disease.

RIDDOR requires employers, by law, to report certain incidents to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), including:

  • Serious accidents involving electricity
  • Accidents that cause death
  • Accidents that cause serious enough injury to warrant three or more days off work
  • Short circuits or electrical overloads that cause explosions and/or fires

Although employers have a legal obligation to report serious accidents through RIDDOR, some don’t. However, if your employer has followed legal protocol and has reported your electrocution accident via the correct channels, it can make the claims process run more smoothly as it can help to improve your employer’s liability.

Is my employer liable for my electrocution injury?

Whether you are a full or part time employee, on a permanent or temporary contract, an independent contractor, or a visitor on site, the employer has a legal obligation to ensure the safety of all personnel. There are a number of different legislative acts which govern exactly what employers must do in order to keep everyone safe in the workplace, including:

  • The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 – Under this legislative act employers must carry out regular risk assessments of the working environments and all equipment used by employees.
  • The Electricity at Work Regulations 1998 – This act provides employers with guidelines on how best to train employees who work with electricity, as well as providing guidelines on protecting against potential hazards.
  • The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 – Under this legislative order employers are required to provide appropriate safety clothing and protective equipment which is fit for purpose, and employees should be trained in the correct way to use the PPE.

In addition to these legislative orders, employers may also choose to have portable appliance testing (PAT) carried out to ensure the safety of any electrical equipment and appliances in the workplace. PAT is not a legal requirement; the law simply states that employers must ensure their electrical equipment is maintained in order to minimise the risk of danger.

If you have been injured in an electric shock accident at work due to your employer neglecting their legal obligations in line with the legislation listed above, you likely have good grounds on which to take legal action and seek compensation.

Here at Lanyon Bowdler we have an expert personal injury team who have a wealth of experience handling claims just like yours. We pride ourselves on our approach, ensuring that we take the time to get to know you and understand your situation so that we are in the best position to help you. Our people are your team, and we are with you for the journey as you navigate your way back to health and rebuild your life after your accident.

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What our clients say.

From the first contact, the team at Lanyon Bowdler gave a fast & efficient service. They were very friendly & gave me the confidence that I had found the right solicitors. The advice given & the fast responses were beyond my expectations. The matter was resolved in no time at all.

Martyn
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It is a pleasure to act as a case manager for clients represented by the personal injury team at Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors. Lanyon Bowdler PI team are proactive and truly client centred. They understand the clients they represent and work tirelessly to achieve the best they can for them. Through collaborative working we have been able to achieve the best outcomes possible for our clients.

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Community Case Management Services Ltd

As a case manager I work closely with litigation teams to ensure our clients get the expertise, support and care they need to bring them back to as close to their life pre-injury as possible. This is very often not an easy journey, and balancing the desires of the client to live their best life with collating and presenting the facts of how that life is altered, can be very challenging. Having worked alongside Lanyon Bowdler’s team for many years, I have noted it is always easier to strike this balance, when they are involved.

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Having worked with a succession of personal injury specialists at Lanyon Bowdler over the years, I have seen at first hand the top-flight legal expertise that they bring to every case and the commitment to obtaining the absolutely best result for every client. Equally importantly, I am struck by the compassion, empathy and humanity with which every client is treated. They go above and beyond to ensure their clients receive the very best representation.

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Guildhall Chambers

The team at Lanyon Bowdler show an exceptional knowledge and understanding of their client’s needs, not just in terms of the claim that they lead, but also the emotional and personal experiences that they will have on that journey.

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JMW Ltd

Lanyon Bowdler provide seamless ongoing emotional support, information and guidance to their clients over what may be many years of a PI claim. This significantly helps mitigate the “stress” of a claim for their clients, and in my medicolegal experience puts them way ahead of other legal firms.

Professor Tony Elliott
Director UK Centre for Medico-Legal Studies

Contacted Lanyon Bowdler six months after an injury at work. They offered me several of their services, including no win no fee which I ended up choosing. The solicitor was extremely helpful, was always keeping me updated when there was news and answered promptly when asked for any updates or when I asked any questions. I was very happy with the final settlement and the advice I received proved to be the best for my case. I felt like the extra bit of care was extended to give me a good idea of the options I had to choose from which really helped to inform any decision.

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Mr N J & Dr S J Browne
Llanfyllin

Contact our Work Electrocution Solicitors

Please give our Personal Injury Lawyers a call for a friendly, confidential, conversation about how we can help support you with a Work Electrocution Injury Claim. There is no commitment or charge for our initial assessment. Please contact a member of the team or complete our online inquiry form toward the top of this page on the right-hand side. We can also arrange a home or hospital visit when more convenient.

Lanyon Bowdler has offices in ShrewsburyBromyardHerefordLudlowOswestryTelford, and Conwy in North Wales.

We are one of the most recognised firms of solicitors in Herefordshire, Shropshire, Mid and North Wales, Birmingham, and the Midlands, synonymous with excellence. We are able to offer a wide range of pricing options including fixed fees and service level guarantees.

As a leading law firm, we regularly act for clients on Work Electrocution Injury Claims. We can represent you wherever you live in England or Wales.

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The claimant worked for a firm of solicitors and sustained injuries to her non dominant ring finger when using a ladder ...
Dawn Humphries • 26 Feb 2024
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The claimant fractured his neck after falling from a ladder whilst spraying a wasp’s nest through a long lance and wea...
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The claimant had not received training from his employers in the use of the truck, nor in manual handling....
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The Serious Injury Claim settlement made provision for the fact the claimant suffered complete loss of earnings capacity...
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