Long Island
Electrocution Injury Lawyer

Construction Electrocution Attorney

Electrocution Injury Lawyer on Long Island

Electrocution is the fourth leading cause of death on construction sites in the United States, responsible for approximately 8% of all construction worker fatalities each year. OSHA classifies electrocution as one of the “Fatal Four” — the four most common causes of construction site deaths, alongside falls, struck-by incidents, and caught-in/between hazards. Together, these four categories account for more than half of all construction worker deaths nationwide.

On Long Island, where aging infrastructure intersects with rapid residential and commercial development, construction electrocution hazards are particularly acute. Workers encounter overhead power lines near building sites, outdated electrical systems in renovation projects, exposed wiring in partially demolished structures, and temporary power setups that fail to meet basic safety standards. When these hazards are not properly addressed, the results are catastrophic: severe burns, cardiac arrest, permanent nerve damage, traumatic brain injury from oxygen deprivation, and death.

At the Law Office of Jason Tenenbaum, P.C., we represent construction workers and their families who have suffered electrocution injuries on Long Island job sites. New York Labor Law provides some of the strongest protections in the country for injured workers — including Industrial Code §23-1.13, which specifically addresses electrical hazards on construction sites. Jason Tenenbaum has spent 24 years holding property owners, general contractors, electrical subcontractors, and utility companies accountable for preventable electrocution injuries across Nassau County and Suffolk County.

Suffered an electrocution injury on a construction site? Call (516) 750-0595 for a free consultation with an experienced construction accident attorney.

Types of Construction Electrocution Accidents

Construction electrocution accidents take many forms, and each involves different liable parties and legal theories. The most common types we handle on Long Island include:

• Contact with overhead power lines — cranes, scaffolds, ladders, metal pipes, and other conductive materials contact energized overhead lines. This is the single deadliest form of construction electrocution. On Long Island, dense residential neighborhoods mean overhead power lines are frequently within reach of construction equipment, particularly on renovation and addition projects where clearance distances are minimal.
• Exposed wiring — renovation and demolition work on older buildings exposes workers to live wires hidden behind walls, in ceilings, and in basements. Failure to de-energize circuits before cutting into walls or removing fixtures is a leading cause of electrocution in remodeling projects across Nassau County’s older housing stock.
• Defective power tools and equipment — power drills, saws, grinders, and other tools with damaged insulation, frayed cords, or missing ground prongs can electrocute the operator. Under product liability law, the manufacturer may be strictly liable when a design or manufacturing defect causes an electrical injury.
• Wet conditions combined with electrical equipment — water and electricity are a lethal combination. Rain, standing water in excavations, and wet concrete create conditions where even low-voltage equipment can deliver fatal shocks. OSHA requires ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) on all construction site receptacles specifically to address this hazard.
• Arc flash and arc blast — an arc flash occurs when an electrical current jumps from one conductor to another through the air, producing temperatures that can exceed 35,000°F — four times the surface temperature of the sun. The resulting arc blast creates a pressure wave that can throw workers across a room. Arc flash injuries produce severe burns, blindness, and hearing loss even without direct electrical contact.
• Incomplete lockout/tagout procedures — lockout/tagout (LOTO) is the process of de-energizing and securing electrical systems before maintenance or construction work. When this procedure is skipped, incomplete, or improperly executed, workers contact circuits they reasonably believe are de-energized. These are entirely preventable incidents caused by the failure of supervisory personnel to enforce safety protocols.

If you were injured in any of these types of electrocution accidents, call (516) 750-0595 for a free case evaluation.

New York Labor Law and Electrocution

New York provides construction workers with the strongest protections in the country against workplace electrocution. Multiple Labor Law sections may apply depending on the circumstances of the accident.

Labor Law §241(6) and Industrial Code §23-1.13

Section 241(6) imposes a non-delegable duty on property owners and general contractors to comply with the specific safety regulations in the New York Industrial Code. For electrocution cases, Industrial Code §23-1.13 is the primary regulatory provision. It requires that all electrical wiring and equipment on construction sites be installed and maintained in accordance with applicable safety standards, that live electrical parts be insulated or guarded, and that circuits be de-energized before work begins on or near them. A proven violation of §23-1.13 establishes prima facie negligence, meaning the injured worker does not need to independently prove the defendant was careless — the regulatory violation speaks for itself.

Labor Law §240 — When Electrocution Causes a Fall

Labor Law §240, the Scaffold Law, imposes absolute liability on property owners and general contractors for gravity-related injuries. While electrocution is not itself a gravity-related hazard, if an electric shock causes a worker to fall from a scaffold, ladder, roof, or other elevated surface, §240 applies to the fall. This is a critical distinction: the electrocution triggers the fall, and the fall is the gravity-related event that invokes absolute liability. In these cases, the property owner and general contractor are absolutely liable for the fall injuries, with sole proximate cause as their only defense.

Labor Law §200 — General Negligence

Section 200 codifies the common-law duty of property owners and general contractors to provide a reasonably safe workplace. For electrocution cases, this means the owner or GC may be liable if they had actual or constructive notice of a dangerous electrical condition — such as exposed wiring, a lack of GFCIs, or proximity to energized power lines — and failed to correct it. While §200 requires proof of notice and control (unlike the strict/absolute liability of §§240 and 241(6)), it provides an additional basis for recovery against parties who knew about the electrical hazard and did nothing.

Need help understanding which Labor Law sections apply to your electrocution case? Call (516) 750-0595 for a free legal assessment.

Who Is Liable for a Construction Electrocution?

Construction electrocution cases frequently involve multiple liable parties. Under New York law, each of the following may bear responsibility depending on the circumstances:

• Property owner — under Labor Law §§240 and 241(6), the property owner has a non-delegable duty to ensure the construction site is safe. This duty cannot be transferred to a contractor or subcontractor. Even a property owner who never visits the site is liable if electrical safety measures were inadequate.
• General contractor — the GC bears the same non-delegable duties as the property owner and is typically responsible for coordinating site safety, including electrical hazard management, among all subcontractors.
• Electrical subcontractor — the sub responsible for electrical work may be liable under common-law negligence and Labor Law §200 if their work created the hazardous condition or if they failed to de-energize circuits, install proper grounding, or follow lockout/tagout procedures.
• Utility company (PSEG Long Island / National Grid) — when overhead power lines or underground utility feeds are involved, the utility company may be liable for failing to de-energize or relocate lines, failing to respond to coordination requests from the contractor, or maintaining lines that did not meet clearance distance requirements.
• Equipment manufacturer — if a defective power tool, extension cord, electrical panel, or other piece of equipment caused the electrocution, the manufacturer faces strict product liability claims for design defects, manufacturing defects, or failure to warn.

We investigate every potentially liable party from the first day we take your case. In construction electrocution cases, the chain of responsibility can extend from the property owner who commissioned the project to the utility company that failed to de-energize a line to the manufacturer that sold a defective tool. Identifying all defendants maximizes the total insurance coverage available to compensate your injuries.

Not sure who is responsible for your electrocution injury? Call (516) 750-0595 — we identify every liable party.

Common Electrocution Injuries

Electrical injuries are among the most devastating of any construction accident type. The current passing through the body damages tissue, organs, and the nervous system in ways that produce both immediate trauma and long-term complications.

• Cardiac arrest and arrhythmia — electrical current disrupts the heart’s electrical system, causing ventricular fibrillation, cardiac arrest, and potentially fatal arrhythmias. Even survivors of initial cardiac arrest may suffer long-term heart damage requiring ongoing cardiac monitoring and treatment.
• Severe burns (entry and exit wounds) — electrical current enters and exits the body, creating deep burns at both contact points. These are not surface burns — the current burns tissue along its entire internal pathway, destroying muscle, blood vessels, and nerves beneath intact skin. Treatment often requires extensive debridement, skin grafts, and reconstructive surgery. Permanent scarring and disfigurement are common.
• Nerve damage and neuropathy — electrical current damages peripheral nerves, producing chronic pain, numbness, tingling, and loss of motor function. Nerve damage from electrocution is frequently permanent and progressive, worsening over months and years after the initial injury.
• Traumatic brain injury from anoxia — when electrocution causes cardiac arrest, the brain is deprived of oxygen. Even minutes of oxygen deprivation can cause permanent cognitive impairment, memory loss, personality changes, and loss of executive function. Anoxic brain injury is one of the most devastating consequences of construction electrocution.
• Amputation — severe electrical burns may destroy enough tissue to require surgical amputation of affected limbs. The deep tissue destruction caused by electrical current often makes limb salvage impossible, resulting in permanent catastrophic disability.
• Death — electrocution remains one of the leading causes of construction fatalities. High-voltage contact, particularly with overhead power lines, is frequently fatal at the scene. Families of workers killed by construction electrocution have wrongful death claims under Labor Law §§240 and 241(6) against the property owner and general contractor.

Dealing with a serious electrocution injury? Call (516) 750-0595 to discuss your case with an attorney who understands the full scope of electrical injury damages.

OSHA Electrical Safety Standards

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets federal electrical safety standards for construction sites under 29 CFR 1926 Subpart K. Violations of these standards are powerful evidence in your Labor Law claim and may also support Industrial Code violation claims under §241(6).

• Ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) — OSHA requires GFCIs on all 120-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacle outlets on construction sites. GFCIs detect ground faults and cut power in milliseconds, preventing electrocution. Failure to install or maintain GFCIs is one of the most common and most preventable causes of construction electrocution.
• Lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures — before any work on electrical systems, circuits must be de-energized, locked out, and tagged to prevent accidental re-energization. OSHA’s lockout/tagout standard (29 CFR 1910.147, applied to construction through the general duty clause) requires written procedures, employee training, and verification that systems are de-energized before work begins.
• Clearance distances from power lines — OSHA mandates minimum approach distances for workers and equipment near overhead power lines: at least 10 feet for lines carrying up to 50kV, with increasing distances for higher voltages. Crane operators, scaffold erectors, and workers handling conductive materials near power lines must maintain these clearances at all times.
• Equipment grounding and insulation — all electrical equipment on construction sites must be properly grounded or double-insulated. Frayed cords, missing ground prongs, and damaged insulation must be removed from service immediately.
• Temporary wiring standards — construction sites rely heavily on temporary electrical installations. OSHA requires that temporary wiring meet specific installation standards, including proper support, protection from physical damage, and GFCI protection.

We obtain OSHA inspection records, citation histories, and investigation reports for every construction electrocution case we handle. These records establish whether the property owner or general contractor had a history of electrical safety violations, which strengthens both liability and damages arguments.

Dangerous Electrical Hazards on Long Island Construction Sites

Long Island’s construction landscape creates electrical hazards that are distinct from other regions. Several factors make electrocution risk particularly high on local job sites:

Aging Infrastructure in Older Nassau County Buildings

Many of Nassau County’s residential and commercial buildings date to the 1940s–1960s, with electrical systems that predate modern safety codes. Renovation work on these structures exposes workers to aluminum wiring (a known fire and shock hazard), knob-and-tube wiring, ungrounded circuits, and deteriorating insulation. Contractors who fail to de-energize these systems before beginning demolition or renovation work expose their crews to serious electrocution risk.

Overhead Power Lines Near Construction

Long Island’s dense suburban development means overhead power lines are frequently in close proximity to construction work — sometimes within feet of scaffolding, crane booms, and rooftop work areas. Unlike urban areas where many utilities are underground, much of Nassau and Suffolk County still relies on overhead distribution lines. Workers erecting scaffolding, operating cranes, or handling long metal pipes and ladders near these lines face constant electrocution risk if proper clearance distances are not maintained.

PSEG Long Island Coordination Requirements

When construction work must occur near PSEG Long Island power lines, the contractor is responsible for coordinating with the utility to de-energize, relocate, or shield the lines. In practice, this coordination frequently breaks down: contractors fail to request de-energization, PSEG delays its response, or temporary protective measures are inadequate. When coordination failures result in electrocution, both the contractor and the utility may bear liability.

Electrocuted near a power line or by aging wiring on a Long Island job site? Call (516) 750-0595 — we investigate every hazard source.

Compensation Available for Electrocution Injuries

Construction electrocution cases typically involve severe injuries that produce significant damages. Recoverable compensation includes:

• Medical expenses — emergency trauma care, burn unit treatment, cardiac monitoring, surgery (including skin grafts and reconstructive procedures), rehabilitation, prosthetics, and projected future medical treatment
• Lost wages and earning capacity — income lost during recovery and long-term reduction in earning ability if electrocution injuries prevent returning to construction work or any physically demanding occupation
• Pain and suffering — chronic pain from nerve damage, the physical agony of severe burns, and the psychological trauma of electrocution
• Enhanced damages for burns and disfigurement — electrocution burns produce entry and exit wounds, deep tissue destruction, and permanent scarring that cause significant disfigurement. New York juries award substantial compensation for visible scarring and disfigurement, particularly when it affects the face, hands, and other exposed areas
• Permanent disability — amputation, brain damage from anoxia, cardiac damage, and chronic neuropathy may constitute permanent total or partial disability, entitling the victim to lifetime compensation for lost earning capacity and diminished quality of life
• Wrongful death damages — when electrocution is fatal, the worker’s family may recover funeral expenses, lost financial support, loss of parental guidance, conscious pain and suffering, and — under New York’s Grieving Families Act — damages for grief, loss of companionship, and emotional anguish

New York does not cap non-economic damages in personal injury cases. Because electrocution injuries are severe and frequently permanent, these cases regularly produce six- and seven-figure recoveries. Use our settlement calculator for an initial estimate of your electrocution injury case value.

To discuss the full value of your electrocution injury claim, call (516) 750-0595 for a free, no-obligation assessment.

Why Hire Jason Tenenbaum for Your Electrocution Case

Jason has handled construction accident and Labor Law cases on Long Island since 2002, including electrocution cases involving power line contact, defective equipment, exposed wiring, and arc flash injuries. He understands the technical aspects of electrical injury cases — voltage levels, current pathways, GFCI requirements, clearance distances, and lockout/tagout protocols — and knows how to translate that technical knowledge into compelling legal arguments.

Electrocution cases are complex because they involve multiple potentially liable parties (property owners, general contractors, electrical subcontractors, utilities, and manufacturers), overlapping regulatory frameworks (Labor Law, OSHA, Industrial Code, and utility regulations), and injuries that are often internal and not immediately apparent. Jason works with electrical engineers, accident reconstructionists, and medical specialists to build cases that capture the full scope of liability and damages.

Jason handles every case personally from first consultation through trial or settlement. He writes his own briefs, takes his own depositions, and argues his own motions. Consultations are free, and you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

Related practice areas: Construction Accidents • Scaffold Accidents • Crane Accidents • Falling Object Injuries • Trench Collapse • Personal Injury • Brain Injuries • Back Injuries • Catastrophic Injury • Wrongful Death • Pain & Suffering • Settlement Calculator