When a California resident decides to dig on his or her property, a call can be made, and someone will come out and mark underground hazards such as cable lines, water pipes and electrical lines. This not only helps ensure the safety of the resident, but also the continuity of public works. If this can be done for a resident, how is it that two workers are fighting for their lives after being electrocuted at a job site accident? The California division of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA) will work to answer this question.
At approximately 10:15 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5, two men identified as being in their mid-20s were working for a subcontractor at a Southern California Edison project. They were using jackhammers to excavate the area when they struck a live underground power line. Both men reportedly suffered burns to their hands and faces from the electrical shock that traveled up through the jackhammers.
At last report, both men remained in critical condition at a hospital in the area. No further information regarding the accident was available from members of the Orange County Fire Authority who responded to the scene. The families of the two injured men are undoubtedly awaiting some answers regarding the incident.
As the two men struggle to recover from the injuries they suffered in this job site accident, the California workers’ compensation system may provide benefits to the men to cover their medical expenses. Further, since these men suffered critical injuries, they will most likely be unable to work for an extended period — if one or both of them are able to return at all. Benefits may also cover their loss of income and may provide either temporary or permanent disability benefits, depending on how each man’s recovery progresses.
Source: mynewsla.com, “Two Edison workers critically hurt by electric shock in Irvine“, Chris Jennewein, Dec. 6, 2014