Electrical Burns on the Job (Treatment and Legal Rights)

Electricity is an inescapable part of our daily lives. No matter what you do for a living, electricity is part of it. Some people work around electricity directly, like those in the construction or electrician industries. Some people simply use it as a modern convenience. No matter the amount of exposure, the risk of electrical burns on the job is always present.

One important thing to note is that electrical burns are dissimilar to heat burns. While heat burns tend to start on the outside of the body and burn inward, electrical burns often pass right through the skin and burn while the electricity courses through the body. Furthermore, it can often be difficult for someone to extricate themselves from the source of electricity while being hit (unless of course they are thrown by the voltage, which is a problem in and of itself).

Don't approach an electrical burn with the same mindset as you would a standard burn.
Common Situations Where Electrical Burns Develop

Some of these scenarios may seem easily preventable, and they are. Nevertheless, it's better to become aware of it before something unfortunate happens.

* Old Household Appliances. The electrical cords on many old appliances start to wear down and become exposed. Although this likely wont result in a debilitating burn, it could still definitely injure a person.

* Unfinished Circuit boxes and power sockets. Watch out for socket areas that need to be covered and finished. It is likely they have juice running to them and could result in a bad shock.

* On-The-Job power tools, construction sites, etc. Even minor construction opens up the possibility for exposed wires, miscommunications, and other jobsite mishaps.

* Natural causes. It's unlikely, but certainly lightning or other natural electric discharges could result in serious injury.

* Live power wires. When powerlines go down, especially alongside roadsides, people are at serious risk. This risk is compounded if there is a water element present.
Symptoms and Treatment

The symptoms of electrical burns vary depending on the severity. Less sever burns could result in nothing more than mild skin lesions.

As burns increase in intensity, the skin will often show increased charring or lesion, but not to the degree in which internal damage is caused. As electricity passes through the body, it causes damage to much more vulnerable internal organs.

Here are some tips when attempting to treat a victim: * Clear the area of live current. If possible, find the source of the current (as in a breaker box, etc) and shut off the power as quickly as possible. Often times electrocution victims are unable to separate themselves from a current and shutting off the power will spare them further injury.

* Separate the victim from the current. If it is impossible to shut down the source, separate the victim with a non-conductive item such as a board, rolled up rubber mat, or rope.

* Call for professional medical assistance. If it's clear that the burn is significant, call for emergency medical help. The sooner they get there the better the odds of avoiding shock and permanent internal damage.

* Check for pulse and breathing. Electricity upsets the pacemaker of the heart, so make sure they have a pulse. Weak, rapid beats may be a sign that the person is going into shock. Check the rising and falling of the chest for breathing. If there is no breathing, administer CPR.

* Maintain body temperature. Utilize blankets or something equivalent to keep the body warm, especially if there seems to be shock setting in. Some signs of shock are cold, clammy skin, weak or rapid pulse, shallow breathing, dilated pupils, and confusion.

* Raise the legs. This helps regulate good blood flow, especially if shock is setting in.

* Treat open wounds. If there are any open wounds, wrap them in clean gauze and wait for professional medical assistance.


Considering Legal Rights

Sometimes electrical burns are caused by nature or personal accident. No other parties are involved and the law needn't get involved.

Other times electrical burns are the cause of negligence or poor planning on the part of others. Burns on the job can sometimes be attributed to unsafe work conditions or poor leadership decisions that put workers in unsafe situations.

Negligence by neighbors, community members, or others can also result in burns. Exposed wires or electrical sources in public thoroughfares such a sidewalks is one example of how an outside party could be held responsible for a burn.

Analyze your situation to determine if an outside party should held responsible for your pain and suffering, not to mention treatment costs. Finally, find a specialist attorney in your area that is accustomed to pursuing these kinds of legal cases.

About the Author

Bill Hayes is owner of The Hayes Firm, a specialized personal injury attorney network designed to find the best lawyer for each individual client. Burn Injuries are one of Bill's specialties and he can get you the help you need. Visit today and receive a free legal consultation!

GoArticles.com




I built this successful website with SiteBuildIt!