Electricity is a great force that brings power to many of the goods and products that New York residents use each and every day. When a person plugs their phone or computer in to charge, or flips a light switch in their home, they are using electricity. Construction workers deal with electricity and electrical hazards whenever they are present on construction sites that use power cables and other tools to install electrical systems.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recognizes the acronym BE SAFE when identifying the ways that electricity can be hazardous to construction workers. “B” stands for burn, which a worker can suffer when they directly or indirectly come into contact with live electrical systems. “E” stands for electrocution, which occurs when charged electricity passes out of a tool and into the body of a victim.
The “S” in the BE SAFE acronym stands for shock, which like electrocution occurs when a person transmits electricity into their body. The “A” stands for arc flash which sends thermal energy out of a charged electrical element, and the “F” stands for fire, a common side effect of an electrical incident. The last “E” in the OSHA acronym stands for explosion, which can happen when electricity is improperly managed on a construction site.
As readers can see, there are many ways that electricity can harm workers who provide service at construction sites. Electrical injuries can be dangerous and deadly and those who suffer them should seek medical help. They may later wish to pursue litigation based on their losses and can do so with the support of knowledgeable personal injury attorneys.