Electricity can be extremely dangerous, especially for those who have to work with it in any capacity. Individuals who work with the power company are highly trained to work with electricity in all forms, yet it is still possible for a power company worker to be injured on the job. Just recently in California, a power worker was shocked and injured as a result.
The accident happened on a Thursday when a worker was at a home working on overhead power lines. As the employee was working, he made some contact with electrical wires and was shocked. It was reported that the electrical worker was shocked with 4,800 volts of electricity at the time.
The worker was found on the ground by firefighters. He was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and was said to be in critical condition. There was a response team called to the scene to offer help for other workers at the scene.
Whenever someone is injured on the job in this capacity and left with critical injuries, there may be extensive medical care needed, as electricity can cause burns and other serious injuries that may require long-term medical care. The power company worker in this case may also miss work as a result of the time needed to recover from the injuries he received in the incident. In California, workers’ compensation laws are in place to assist those who are injured on the job, as they may need those benefits to cover medical expenses and also lost wages.
Source: latimes.com, “LADWP worker shocked with 4,800 volts of electricity“, Veronica Rocha, Aug. 28, 2014