Faulty or defective equipment in the workplace lead to hundreds of electric shock accidents every year.

People who work in the following professions are at a higher risk of suffering an electric shock:

• Electricians.
• Construction workers.
• Catering staff.
• Hairdressers.
• Theatre production staff.

The symptoms of an electric shock injury differ depending on the voltage of electricity involved and the length of time that the electric current is flowing. An electric shock can cause:

• Difficulty breathing.
• Burns.
• Irregular heartbeat.
• Cardiac arrest.
• Muscle spasms.
• Fractures, broken bones and dislocated joints – which can be caused by aggressive muscle spasms and the force of the shock throwing a person into other objects.

In worst case scenarios death can be the outcome of a severe electric shock – otherwise known as electrocution.

In order to prove that your employer’s negligence led to your accident and injuries it must be possible for your solicitor to collect evidence to build a case against them. This includes:

• Being able to prove that a duty of care was breached.
• Being able to prove that the duty of care directly led to the accident and consequent injuries.

There are several pieces of legislation in place to protect employees in the workplace including:

Electricity at Work Regulations 1998: This sets out guidelines for training employees who are required to work with electricity. It sets out recommended procedures for conducting risk assessments which involve electrical equipment and what measures are needed to cover live wires.

Provision and Use of Work Regulations (PUWER) 1998: This relates to equipment used in the workplace. The regulations state that equipment must be suitable for the intended use, maintained to a good standard and should only be used by people who have been trained to use it properly.

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974: This sets out a wide range of duties that employers must meet to ensure the health, safety and welfare of employees, clients, contractors and visitors to the premises of the business.

If your employer is found to be in breach of any of the above your solicitor can use this as evidence against them when building your case.

Your solicitor will also collect the following evidence to help prove that your employer was negligent:

• Witness reports from the scene of the accident.
• The report in the company accident book.
• Photos and video evidence from the scene of the accident.
• Medical records and the findings from an independent medical assessment.
• Reports from independent health and safety experts.