Electric Shock At Work Claims: A Guide To Compensation And Support
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If you work with electricity, you'll know how dangerous it can be. Electricians and electrical maintenance workers work with electricity every day, but other people can also be at risk of electric shock and electrocutions when interacting with any electrical cord or electrical circuit, causing injuries, severe burns, and even death. Construction site workers, lighting engineers, theatre staff and even office workers can all potentially suffer an electric shock and electrical injuries in the workplace, especially if safety switches aren't present.
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Electric Shock At Work Claims: A Guide To Compensation And Support
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If you work with electricity, you'll know how dangerous it can be. Electricians and electrical maintenance workers work with electricity every day, but other people can also be at risk of electric shock and electrocutions when interacting with any electrical cord or electrical circuit, causing injuries, severe burns, and even death. Construction site workers, lighting engineers, theatre staff and even office workers can all potentially suffer an electric shock and electrical injuries in the workplace, especially if safety switches aren't present.
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What Are Electric Shock At Work Claims?
Electric shock claims include any electrical injuries caused in the workplace, whether your job involves working with electricity or not. Your employer has a legal duty to ensure a safe working environment, even if you work in an office. All lighting, electrical appliances and power sources to electronic and electrical equipment must be safe, comply with the latest regulations, and be regularly tested.
If you work with electricity as part of your job, then your employer has a duty to ensure that you are appropriately trained for your role, have appropriate personal protective equipment, and that there are protocols in place to provide a safe working environment.
If your employer has failed in their legal duty to keep you safe and you have suffered an electric shock at work and electrical injuries, then you may be able to bring a claim for compensation. Even if you are on the premises as a contractor or are self-employed, the controller of the building or site still has an obligation to keep you safe.
Electric shock claims fall within a category called personal injury claims, which is a type of civil action. Most people who want to claim electric shock injury compensation use specialist personal injury lawyers.
Let’s take a look at the different causes of electrical injury that can occur in the workplace.
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we use specialist personal injury solicitors with expertise in electric shock injuries and a proven track record in electric shock claims.
Are Workplace Accidents Common?
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is an independent body responsible for enforcing health and safety laws in the country. They conduct inspections, issue fines and publish statistics on the rates of injuries and accidents.
Here’s a breakdown of their findings from 2022/2023, the latest available:
- Around 561,000 workers reported suffering an injury
- 135 workers sadly lost their lives in work-related accidents
- As a result of accidents at work, the economy is estimated to have lost 3.7 million working days
- Combined with work-related ill health, such as stress, the total annual cost to the British economy is £20.7 billion
With 561,000 injuries last year, this works out at around 1,537 injuries at work a day, which is a startling figure and one that proves just how common they are.
What Are The Most Common Causes Of Electric Shock Injuries In The Workplace?
Some working environments, like construction sites, are clearly more hazardous than others but even in an office or shop, there are still electrical hazards and the potential for injury. Electricity is always dangerous in any location. Here are some of the most common electrical hazards.
- Exposed wires and electrical components can lead to electric shock, particularly in areas which are damp or wet.
- Inadequate grounding can cause electrical charge to build up so that electric shock occurs unexpectedly.
- Overloading circuits by using too many appliances on one socket via extension cords can be exacerbated by the failure to install a circuit breaker leading to electric shock and the potential for fire.
- Damaged equipment, tools and appliances, such as faulty switches or a frayed cord, can increase the likelihood of electric shock.
- Working in wet areas increases the risk of electrical shock and electrical injury.
- Working at height and in proximity to overhead power lines.
What Type Of Injuries Do Electric Shocks Cause?
The Health and Safety Executive divides electrical injuries into four different types.
Electric Shock
Electrical current as low as 50 volts that flows between two parts of the body can block electrical signals from the brain which controls the muscles. The heart is a muscle, so this can stop your heart from beating properly, leading to cardiac arrest. Other electric shock symptoms include erratic or impaired breathing, and muscle spasms throughout the body; these can be strong enough to break bones.
How serious the electric shock symptoms are depends on how long the current flows, the voltage level and whether that person is damp or wet at the time of the shock.
Electrical Burns
When an electrical current passes through the human body, it heats the tissues along its route which can result in severe internal injuries and visible external burns. Low voltage shocks may not result in visible damage but a person should always be checked at their local emergency department. Higher voltages tend to cause more severe outcomes, which can require extensive surgery and lead to life-changing injuries.
Muscle Spasms And Broken Bones
Electric shock can create strong muscle spasms as electricity passes through the body, which can dislocate or break joints. This is the most common reason why people are unable to let go or remove themselves from the source of the shock. If that person is working at height, then the electric shock may ultimately cause a fall, leading to loss of consciousness and a range of other potentially very severe injuries.
Thermal Burns
Thermal burns refer to injuries from overheating electrical equipment and items that explode, such as low voltage batteries in electric bikes and cars. Secondary injuries may occur as someone tries to remove themselves quickly from hot machinery.
Can I Make An Electric Shock At Work Injury Claim?
If you’ve received an injury from electric shock in your workplace, then you may be able to make a claim for compensation. The first thing to understand is that you don’t need to work directly with electricity as part of your job. Also, your employer legally has a duty of care to protect you from injury in the workplace under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, so that’s another box ticked.
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To bring a successful claim, you will need to demonstrate that your employer has failed to uphold that duty, so there has been negligence in some shape or form that has failed to ensure workplace electrical safety. There are any number of ways that duty of care may have been breached ranging from inadequate or zero training to use electrical equipment to a failure to update outmoded wiring.
Finally, you must be able to show that this breach of duty of care led to your electric shock injury or worsened an existing condition or health problem.
We offer a free evaluation of your claim with a quick eligibility check via the number at the top of this page. You can also use our live chat service if you prefer.
How Much Compensation Is Awarded In Electric Shock Claims In The Workplace?
Each workplace accident is unique so it’s hard to give average figures for different injuries resulting from electric shock. It makes sense that more severe burns or injuries receive a higher payout, but the actual detail can vary significantly from one case to another.
Using The Judicial College Guidelines, here are some concrete examples of how much compensation is awarded for different types of electric shock injuries.
- A high voltage shock to a person working at height resulting in a head injury and moderately severe brain damage, leaving the injured person very seriously disabled, can be awarded compensation of between £267,340 and £344,150.
- A moderate shoulder injury caused by falling into a piece of office furniture after sustaining an electric shock and resulting in movement issues and symptoms persisting for around two years can lead to compensation of between £9,630 and £15,580.
- Serious burn injuries attract very significant awards to reflect the level of pain and the ongoing physical and psychological injury. Burns which cover 40% or more of the body will attract awards in excess of £127,930.
- Electric shocks are known to cause mental trauma as well as physical injuries. A serious electric shock that causes severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), in which the injured person is prevented from working or functioning at their pre-trauma level, can result in a payout of between £73,050 and £122,850.
Use our electric shock compensation calculator below to get an instant idea of how much you could get for a variety of different injuries.
How No Win No Fee Solicitors Co Can Help You
If you want to make a claim for injury caused by electric shock in the workplace, then it’s vital to work with experienced solicitors with demonstrable expertise in this area.
Here at No Win No Fee Solicitors Co, our team can help you make a claim for compensation for injuries caused by electric shock in your workplace. Best of all, we offer our services on a No Win No Fee basis, so you won’t pay anything to start your claim. If you don’t win or you go to court and don’t win, you still won’t pay a penny. This is 100% risk-free legal advice.
Our lawyers are paid via a success fee which is taken from your compensation award. It’s a percentage of the final amount and all this will be set out clearly in our fee agreement before we start work on your claim. The best thing about this is that anyone can start a claim for an accident at work regardless of the money in their pocket.
If you’d like to check if you can make an accident claim after an electric shock injury and want to know how much compensation you could receive, please call us on the number above, write to us here, or message us now via our live chat box. We’re always happy to help.
Electric Shock Claims FAQs
Below we’ll answer common questions regarding electric shocks at work
Do I Have To Be Involved In Electrical Work To Make A Compensation Claim For My Injury?
No, you don’t need to be an electrical contractor or licensed electrician to make a claim. Any worker who receives injuries after an electric shock at work whether that’s caused by faulty electrical appliances or a problem with electrical systems in the building, is entitled to seek compensation for their injuries.
Should I Seek Medical Attention For A Minor Electric Shock?
Sometimes, with low voltage shocks, that person may seem alright with no visible injuries or noticeable symptoms. However, it is always recommended under HSE guidance that you go to the emergency department at your local hospital to be checked over as internal damage is invisible.
How Should I React If A Co-Worker Receives An Electric Shock?
You should not touch the person as the current flow may pass to you, too. You should make safe the area and call for help. If it is possible to identify and turn off the power supply safely, then do so. However, only professionals should interact with high voltage electricity.
Can I Make A Claim If I Am Partly To Blame For The Accident?
You can still make a claim even if the electric shock you suffered at work was partly your fault; this is called contributory negligence. Your employer may have been negligent in their care and maintenance of electrical equipment, but you also failed to follow safety protocols regarding safe handling and protective equipment. In this situation, you can still bring a claim, and any compensation award is reduced to reflect your proportional element of fault.
Is There A Time Limit To Bring A Claim?
Yes, claimants have three years from the date of the injury occurring or three years from the date they became aware of the injury.
Do I Need Personal Injury Solicitors To Make A Claim?
Making accident at work claims can be complex particularly if your injuries are severe or ongoing. Most people use specialist solicitors to manage their claim so they can focus on their recovery.
