How to Prevent Electrical Injuries at Work and at Home

Electricity is something most people interact with every day, often without thinking twice about the risks. We plug in appliances, use power tools, charge our phones, work around electrical equipment, and make repairs around the house. At work, electricity can become an even greater hazard, particularly on construction sites, industrial facilities, farms, and other jobs where workers may be around exposed wiring, power lines, machinery, or temporary electrical systems.

Electrical injuries can range from painful shocks and serious burns to falls, fires, and fatal electrocution. OSHA identifies several common electrical hazards, including contact with power lines, inadequate ground-fault protection, damaged grounding paths, improperly used equipment, and improper use of extension cords.

Whether you are working on a job site in the Rio Grande Valley or handling a project at home, understanding electrical safety can help prevent a serious injury.

What Causes Electrical Injuries?

Electrical injuries can happen in many different ways. Some occur because a person comes into direct contact with an energized wire or electrical component. Others happen indirectly, such as when electricity causes someone to fall from a ladder or elevated surface.

Common electrical hazards include:

• Exposed or damaged wiring
• Frayed electrical cords
• Overloaded outlets or circuits
• Improperly grounded equipment
• Contact with overhead power lines
• Contact with underground electrical lines
• Faulty power tools
• Improperly used extension cords
• Wet conditions around electrical equipment
• Missing or inadequate ground-fault protection
• Improper electrical repairs
• Contact with energized electrical panels
• Electrical fires and arc flashes

OSHA notes that electrical exposure can result in electric shock, burns, fires, explosions, falls, and electrocution.

How to Prevent Electrical Injuries at Work

Workplace electrical hazards can be particularly serious because workers may encounter electrical systems while operating machinery, using power tools, working at heights, or handling conductive materials.

Employers and workers should take electrical hazards seriously before work begins.

1. Identify Electrical Hazards Before Starting Work

Before beginning a project, workers should identify electrical hazards in the work area.

This can include looking for:

• Overhead power lines
• Exposed wiring
• Damaged cords
• Electrical panels
• Temporary electrical systems
• Underground utilities
• Wet areas
• Damaged tools or equipment

Construction workers should be especially cautious around overhead and buried power lines. OSHA recommends maintaining appropriate clearance from overhead lines and treating them as energized unless they have been properly deenergized.

2. Keep a Safe Distance From Power Lines

Overhead power lines can pose a serious risk to construction workers, landscapers, roofers, utility workers, and anyone operating large equipment.

Cranes, ladders, scaffolding, dump truck beds, concrete equipment, and other conductive objects can come into contact with power lines.

OSHA’s construction guidance states that workers should stay at least 10 feet away from overhead power lines in situations covered by its guidance and use appropriate protective measures when working near them.

If you are unsure whether a line is energized, do not assume it is safe.

Treat it as energized and contact the appropriate utility or qualified professional.

3. Inspect Tools and Electrical Cords

Damaged equipment should not be treated as a minor inconvenience.

A frayed extension cord or damaged power tool can expose someone to electrical current.

Before using electrical equipment, inspect it for:

• Cuts or exposed wires
• Frayed insulation
• Damaged plugs
• Missing ground pins
• Cracked housings
• Signs of overheating
• Water damage

OSHA specifically advises workers to visually inspect electrical equipment and remove defective equipment from service. Construction regulations also prohibit the use of worn or frayed electrical cords.

4. Keep Electricity Away From Water

Water and electricity are a particularly dangerous combination.

Avoid using electrical tools or equipment in wet conditions unless the equipment and safety measures are specifically designed for that environment.

At home, keep appliances and cords away from sinks, bathtubs, pools, wet floors, and other sources of water.

OSHA’s electrical safety guidance also advises workers to avoid standing in wet areas while using portable electrical power tools.

5. Use Ground-Fault Protection

Ground-fault circuit interrupters, commonly called GFCIs, can help protect people from dangerous electrical current.

GFCIs are especially important in areas where electricity may come into contact with water or damp conditions.

OSHA identifies ground-fault protection as an important safeguard against electrical injuries in construction environments.

6. Leave Electrical Repairs to Qualified Professionals

Not every electrical problem is a DIY project.

If you don’t know what you are doing, opening an electrical panel or attempting to repair exposed wiring can turn a small household problem into a serious injury.

At work, OSHA requires qualified workers to perform certain tasks involving exposed energized electrical parts. Electrical circuits should generally be deenergized before employees work on or near them unless specific exceptions apply.

When in doubt, stop and get help from a qualified electrician.

How to Prevent Electrical Injuries at Home

Electrical safety isn’t just a workplace issue. Your home can contain plenty of electrical hazards too.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission notes that electrical hazards can contribute to home fires and emphasizes that many electrical hazards are preventable.

Some basic precautions include:

• Don’t use damaged electrical cords.
• Don’t overload outlets or power strips.
• Keep electrical devices away from water.
• Use GFCI protection where appropriate.
• Keep children away from electrical outlets and exposed wiring.
• Don’t use electrical equipment that shows signs of overheating.
• Don’t remove grounding prongs from plugs.
• Follow manufacturer instructions for electrical products.
• Have questionable wiring inspected by a qualified electrician.
• Make sure outdoor electrical equipment is appropriate for outdoor use.

If an outlet is sparking, smoking, overheating, or repeatedly tripping a breaker, don’t ignore it. Electrical problems rarely improve because everyone collectively decides to pretend they aren’t happening.

What Should You Do If You Are Injured by Electricity?

If an electrical accident occurs, your immediate priority should be getting medical attention and making sure the area is safe.

Get Away From the Electrical Hazard

If someone is still in contact with an energized source, do not touch them directly. You could also become part of the electrical circuit.

If it can be done safely, shut off the power at the appropriate source and contact emergency services.

Seek Medical Attention

Electrical injuries can be more serious than they initially appear.

A person may suffer burns, nerve damage, internal injuries, heart problems, or other complications. Electrical accidents can also cause a person to fall from a ladder, roof, scaffold, or other elevated location.

Seek appropriate medical attention after a significant electrical incident, even if the injury does not initially appear severe.

Report a Workplace Injury

If you were injured while working, report the accident to your employer as soon as possible.

In Texas, injured employees generally must notify their employer within 30 days of the injury or of learning that an injury or illness is related to their work. A claim with the Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation generally must be filed within one year to protect the employee’s rights.

Because deadlines and circumstances can vary, injured workers should not assume that waiting is harmless.

Document What Happened

If you are physically able to do so, document as much as possible about the accident.

This may include:

• Photographs of the accident scene
• Photographs of damaged equipment
• Photographs of visible injuries
• Names of witnesses
• Employer and supervisor information
• Medical records
• Accident reports
• Safety reports
• Information about the equipment involved
• Communications regarding the accident

Preserving evidence can become particularly important when the cause of an electrical accident is disputed.

What If Someone Else’s Negligence Caused Your Electrical Injury?

Not every electrical injury is handled the same way.

If you were injured at work, workers’ compensation may provide medical and wage benefits depending on the circumstances and whether your employer carries workers’ compensation coverage. Texas law is somewhat unusual because most private employers are not required to carry workers’ compensation insurance.

In some situations, another party may also potentially be responsible for an injury. Depending on the circumstances, this could involve a property owner, contractor, equipment manufacturer, subcontractor, or another third party.

Determining whether another party may have legal responsibility requires looking closely at how the accident happened and who was responsible for the condition that caused the injury.

Electrical Injuries Can Have Long-Term Consequences

An electrical accident doesn’t necessarily end when you leave the emergency room.

Depending on the severity of the injury, someone may face:

• Ongoing medical treatment
• Physical therapy
• Nerve damage
• Scarring or burns
• Reduced ability to work
• Lost income
• Permanent disability
• Emotional distress
• Future medical expenses

That’s why it’s important to take an electrical injury seriously and understand your options before making decisions about a potential claim.

How Brasure Law PLLC Can Help After an Electrical Injury

If you or a family member has suffered an electrical injury in McAllen, Edinburg, Mission, Pharr, or elsewhere in the Rio Grande Valley, Brasure Law PLLC can help you understand your legal options.

Attorney Chris Brasure can review the circumstances surrounding the accident, help identify potentially responsible parties, explain the claims process, and help you understand what steps may be available based on the facts of your case.

Whether the injury happened on a construction site, at another workplace, on someone else’s property, or in another situation, determining what happened and why can be an important part of pursuing a claim.

Injured in an Electrical Accident? Contact Brasure Law PLLC

Electrical injuries can happen in an instant, but their consequences can last for months or even years. 

If you or someone you love was injured because of an electrical hazard, don’t assume you have to navigate the situation alone. Brasure Law PLLC serves injured individuals throughout the Rio Grande Valley. 

Contact Brasure Law PLLC to discuss your situation and learn more about your legal options.