According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International, electrocution is one of the leading causes of workplace deaths. What’s notable about this data is that roughly 70% of these fatalities are in non-electrical industries. As a result, chances are high that if you suffered an electrocution injury in Clovis, you may have been working in a job where electrocution risks aren’t given a second thought.
California has a well-established workers’ compensation system in place to reimburse employees hurt on the job. Unfortunately, this system doesn’t always work as it should, leaving many workers with unpaid medical bills and lost income due to missed work because of their injuries.
If you’re one of these workers, Maison Law can help. We represent electrocution injury victims in Clovis and other parts of California. To learn more about what we can do for you, contact us to schedule a free case evaluation and consultation.
Types of Electrocution Workers’ Compensation Injuries in Clovis
An electrocution injury is an injury caused by electricity coming into direct contact with the human body. When the current flows through the body, it can lead to significant tissue damage and/or interfere with the electrical signals in the brain and signals that control the heart.
Many electrocution injuries are made worse when muscles contract in response to the electrical current, making it difficult for the victim to remove themselves from the electrical source. Common injuries that come with electrocution include:
- Electrical burns
- Internal organ damage
- Organ failure
- Amputation of limbs
- Heart failure
- Muscle damage
- Nervous system damage
- Brain damage
- Paralysis
- Coma
The type of injury and its severity will often depend on what caused the electrocution injury.
Common Causes of Electrocution Injuries
Many electrocution injuries at worksites are the result of someone acting negligently or carelessly. This means most electrocution injuries are due to:
- Exposed electrical wiring
- Malfunctioning or defective equipment
- Electrical wiring in unexpected locations, such as a floor or yard
- Metal tools left in contact with live electrical sources
- Unprotected contact with welding torches and other industrial equipment
- Overloaded extension cords, power strips, and power supplies
- Flooding around electrical equipment, outlets, and wiring
As bad as these injuries can be, the good news is that they can often be avoided or minimized by taking the proper precautions.
Preventing Electrocution Injuries at Work
Any time an employee works near an exposed wire or electrical source, the risk of electrocution is always present. However, they can reduce their risk of harm by following proper safety precautions, including wearing appropriate personal protective equipment, or PPE. Examples of effective PPE for electrocution risks include:
- Hard hat
- Rubber boots
- Rubber gloves
- Masks
- Flash suits
- Safety goggles
- Hand tools with proper voltage ratings
Safety rules that can limit the risk of workplace electrocution can be found under federal law. Specifically, the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act of 1970 established the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a federal agency that establishes and enforces workplace safety and health regulations. Under federal law, employers are responsible for:
- Cooperating with lawful workplace safety inspections.
- Taking reasonable steps to provide a safe working environment for employees. This includes following applicable health and safety regulations.
- Conducting internal inspections of job sites, safety protocols, and PPE.
- Informing employees of their safety duties, including their rights under the OSH Act.
- Offering sufficient safety training to employees so they have the skills and knowledge to handle hazardous situations and prevent electrical accidents.
As helpful as these safety requirements are, one of the major problems with electrocutions is that they often occur in jobs that don’t typically work in or around electricity or electrical components. As a result, there are many jobs and industries where electrocution injuries are more common, despite being non-electrical in nature.
Jobs in Clovis at Risk of Electrocution Workers’ Compensation Claims
Many jobs come with at least some risk of electrical injury, although risks vary based on industry and job duties. Below are some industries that see a greater proportion of electrocutions, a few of which might surprise you.
- Power line workers: These jobs require the handling of high-voltage and high-amperage electrical lines. The risk of accidental exposure to dangerous electrical currents is very high. There are numerous safety protocols and PPE requirements, but they aren’t always followed.
- HVAC technicians: These professionals are usually working with the installation of air conditioning and heating systems, which require large amounts of electricity to operate. Many HVAC professionals must deal with the wiring of heating and cooling equipment to electrical systems.
- Electricians: When the average person thinks of a job with lots of electrocutions, they think of electricians. They wouldn’t be wrong, as electricians are near the top when it comes to workplace deaths due to electricity.
- Landscapers: Yard and ground maintenance professionals don’t usually deal with electricity, which ironically is the reason why they’re often at risk of electrocution. Unexpected exposure to electricity can occur when working in a yard with buried electrical lines.
- Construction workers: Exposed wiring in buildings, heavy machinery utilizing high electrical currents, and overhead wires all combine to create elevated risks of electrocution injuries in the workplace.
- Power plant workers: Complicated electrical systems using massive amounts of electricity make the risk of fatal electrocutions high.
Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim for Electrocution
If you’re injured due to electrical exposure while working in Clovis, the first thing you need to do is get appropriate medical attention. Assuming you received the necessary treatment for your injuries, you’ll then need to notify your employer of the accident, assuming you want to file for workers’ compensation.
For most cases, you’ll have to provide this notice to your employer within 30 days of the accident. If you report the injury after this deadline, you risk being unable to receive workers’ compensation benefits. You can usually provide this notice when you ask for a Workers’ Compensation Claim Form (DWC 1).
You’ll fill out the DWC 1 to provide details about the injury. After you fill out DWC 1, you’ll give it to your employer, who will provide information on the form for the sections they’re required to complete. Your employer then forwards a copy of the DWC 1 to the claims administrator (you should also receive a copy of the completed DWC 1).
After receipt, the claims administrator should let you know that your request has either been accepted or there’s a need for an investigation into your claim. If this latter situation applies, it’s usually a good idea to talk to a workers’ compensation lawyer to make sure this process goes as quickly and smoothly as possible.
Why It Pays to Talk to a Workers’ Compensation Attorney
In addition to helping you through a workers’ compensation claims investigation, an attorney can be helpful in other situations. For example, if the claims administrator wrongfully denies your benefits claim, your lawyer can help you file an appeal.
If the claims administrator provides insufficient benefits, a workers’ compensation lawyer can also help you negotiate with the workers’ compensation insurance company to increase your benefits by explaining why the original award was insufficient.
Then there are cases where the initial benefits are sufficient, but changes to your health or your medical treatments mean the benefits you’re receiving are no longer enough. For instance, because of the severity of the electrocution, you may need to increase or extend your benefits to include:
- Long-term medical care due to permanent injuries.
- Temporary disability payments to compensate you for missed work while you heal from your injuries. In California, you can receive up to two-thirds of your gross pay while you recover.
- Permanent disability payments if you’re permanently disabled because of the electrocution and it affects your ability to work.
- Supplemental job rehabilitation reimbursement. If you need to find a new job and require additional training, you may be eligible for a voucher to pay for this training or schooling.
- Death benefits. If the electrocution results in a fatality, workers’ compensation may pay up to $320,000 to qualifying dependents and $10,000 for funeral and burial expenses.
Get in Touch With a Clovis Electrocution Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Electrocution injuries are some of the most preventable of all workplace accidents. Sadly, many instances of electrocution occur because workers aren’t aware of the risks or aren’t provided sufficient training and safety equipment. Whatever the cause of your electrocution, you’re probably entitled to workers’ compensation payments for your injuries.
If you run into issues receiving benefits, Maison Law can help. Our workers’ compensation attorneys know how to increase inadequate benefit payments and negotiate with claims insurance companies and employers when the claims process stalls. Contact us to schedule a no-cost, no-obligation consultation. We don’t get paid unless you get paid, so you’ve got nothing to lose by reaching out.
