Workers in Pennsylvania know that strict safety procedures are critical to providing a healthy workspace. Companies and manufacturers set up rules and regulations that need to be followed to help ensure that everyone on the job stays safe. In spite of this, accidents do happen, and people are injured or killed in workplace accidents. Over a thousand people are killed each year in accidents involving electricity.
Many people underestimate just how dangerous electricity can be. They assume that the only way someone can get hurt is if they’re dealing with obviously exposed live wiring. They’d be surprised to learn that many deaths due to electricity occur when the voltage is 600 volts or lower. The key is to educate employees about the dangers of electricity.
There are a few things that workplaces and workers can do to lessen the likelihood of an accident caused by electricity. Workers should never stand in a way that allows them to become part of an electrical circuit. There are tools, clothes and other items that can help protect them. If they’re able to, workers should work with a ground cable that can reroute live currents. They should also wear special gloves that can ward off high voltages. People who are standing in areas where high voltages exist may use rubber mats to help divert dangerous currents.
Special procedures called lockout and tagout procedures have been created by OSHA to help workers remain safe around electricity. This method ensures that once a circuit has been turned off, it can’t be turned on again without the permission of the person who turned it off in the first place. Swift and precise emergency actions can help ensure that people are safe. If an accident occurs with an electrical device, the first order of business is to ensure human safety. Once the area has been deemed safe, people can go about repairing and replacing the damaged equipment.
People who’ve fallen victim to workplace accidents may benefit by working with lawyers who have experience handling workers’ compensation benefits. Legal professionals may help injured employees navigate complex workers’ comp issues such as appeals and settlements.