Electrocution

Electrocution is still the major cause of deaths in construction and part of the reason for this is that electricity is usually taken for granted in the work place. If you are working on a job site, it is the responsibility of the general manager or the owner to see that all electrical lines are defined before they begin their project. Without this your life could be in very serious jeopardy without you even realizing it. The danger can come from something as simple as a ladder or in some cases a boom truck. The threat is always there unless it is taken care of up front to protect the people that are working on a job site.

Most people believe that only cranes are involved in overhead contact with electricity, but this is not so. It can be such things as a backhoe, dump truck, ladders and rolling scaffolds to mention a few and it doesn’t take a high powered line to kill someone. It can happen in a residential environment as well. Electricity is something you should always be aware of and that is the safest precaution from electrocution.

On a construction site there are laws that the owner or general manager has to follow to ensure your safety. They are supposed to locate and identify all overhead power lines. If there are lines that are thought to be a problem, they should have them moved, insulated or de-energized before the construction even starts. The best way to do this is contact the utility company. They are the experts and can make sure everyone will be safe. Another safety feature is to have a signal installed on the machinery to let someone know when they are within a boom length to a power line above and never use a metal ladder near over head power lines because even contact with a wooden ladder can be fatal.

If you do happen to come in contact with electricity with equipment make sure you understand how electricity works. Don’t jump on the ground while still touching the equipment. Touching anything electric and having contact with the ground is a sure way of electrocution. Warn everyone to stay away from the equipment and don’t be fooled into thinking the currant was cut off. The power is designed to keep trying to reset sometimes up to three times. If you have to leave the equipment because of fire, make sure you jump clear as far as you can. If you contact with the ground and any part of the machinery at the same time, it could result in electrocution.

There are laws put in place to protect people that work on construction sites. If you are one of the people that gets injured by electrocution, you or your family have a right to seek legal council and take action against the company you were working for. If you are just injured, then contact a lawyer right away. They will know how to investigate a site to see where the fault lies. If your family is left without you, then they should contact a lawyer. He/She is the one that knows exactly what to do to ensure their future will be taken care of. If you have children they have a right to live in the same lifestyle that they were used to before the accident. If it is the case that you are disabled for life, then they have a right to the college funds that would have been there before you got injured. In the case of electrocution, it is the owner or general contractor that should ensure your safety. You can work with due care and attention, but the main hazard should be removed so you do not have to deal with it.

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