Electric Shock at Work Compensation Solicitors

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.

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.

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.

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.