Electric Drop Light Accidents

Drop lights are special lamps in which the lightbulb is surrounded by a protective cage that is molded with the handle to create a single unit. They are used to illuminate areas that are difficult to see. They are also known as trouble lights or inspection lamps. Drop lights have long power lines so that they can reach some distance, and often the handle has an electrical outlet on it so that the light is also its own extension cord. Although drop lights are useful to many different types of workers, electric drop light accidents may cause serious injuries. You should contact a Boston workers’ compensation attorney at Pulgini & Norton if you have been hurt in this type of accident.

The human body conducts electricity, and even minor-seeming electrical burns may cause serious internal injuries. Some injuries caused by electrical current include thermal burns, muscle or nerve or tissue damage, and cardiac arrest, based on how the heart is affected by the electricity passing through the body. Sometimes electrical injuries, particularly those involving direct contact with a current, are fatal. If, for example, a utility worker is trying to get a drop light cord out of the leg of a metal duct, and the metal duct is energized, a worker touching the duct might suffer an electric shock. In one incident reported by OSHA, an employee was told to wrap tape around the metal hook of a drop light. Doing as he was told, the employee held the drop light to his chest, even though he was sweating, and he was shocked by the electrical current. The extension cord was pulled out of the wall, but it was too late, and the employee died.

If you were injured in a job-related electric drop light accident or a loved one was killed this way, you may be eligible for workers' compensation benefits. Almost all employers in Massachusetts are required to carry workers' compensation insurance that provides benefits to employees in case of a job-related injury or illness. Benefits that your employer's insurer is required to pay may include medical benefits, disability benefits, vocational rehabilitation, loss of function, disfigurement, and scarring.

Typically, an electric drop light accident requires a worker to go to the emergency room for medical care. Serious injuries will require multiple visits to receive medical treatment and care. Once your employer notifies the insurance company, the insurer is supposed to provide you with an insurance card, including a claim number and contact information. This claim number is supposed to be used so that your doctor can bill an insurer directly and obtain pre-approval for treating the illness or injury. Most medical providers will not treat someone without a claim number.

You may also recover permanent, temporary, partial, or full disability benefits if you are unable to work for five or more non-consecutive workdays due to your job-related injuries.

About half of injured workers' claims are disputed by insurers or the employer. If your claim is disputed, you should retain an experienced attorney to protect your right to benefits. Administrative judges who work for the Department of Industrial Accidents (DIA) decide disputes. In most cases, it is not a good idea to represent yourself in DIA proceedings.

If you are harmed or a loved one died in an electric drop light accident, the Boston lawyers at Pulgini & Norton may be able to offer knowledgeable legal counsel. We also provide representation in cities such as Somerville, Lowell, and Quincy. For a free consultation with a workplace accident attorney, contact us online or call us at 781-843-2200.