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Federal guidelines aim to protect electrical safety

On Behalf of | Apr 22, 2019 | Workers' Compensation |

Employers in Kentucky may find that there are unexpected advantages to hewing closely to federal safety regulations, especially when dealing with electricity. Electrical accidents can be devastating on the job. Workers can face serious injuries or even lose their lives as a result of an accident involving electricity, and a serious accident can lead to severe damage to an overall project as well. Some workers may be unable to return to the job or face permanent disabilities as a result of the damage done.

The workplace safety regulations for electrical projects, known as NFPA 70E, represent a standard that was actually developed primarily by private industry. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), charged with protecting workplace safety and taking action to enforce the law against employers who fail to follow the rules, sought out the industry to develop an electrical safety standard. As a result, the guidelines are designed to enhance productivity while keeping workers safe on the job. While companies can apply the NFPA 70E standard solely because it is important to protecting electrical safety, it can also be an important means of improving efficiency in the workplace.

The standard requires a walk-through and a planning checklist before any workers begin to engage with live electricity. As a result, tools, protective gear and other equipment must be gathered in advance. This planning process can also identify any serious problems or dangers before anyone is hurt. As a result, expensive repairs or redone work can also be avoided by making a plan in advance.

Of course, many electrical workers operate in job sites that fail to follow federal safety regulations or provide proper protective gear. As a result, they may face serious injuries on the job. A workers’ compensation lawyer could help injured workers to pursue the benefits they deserve.

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