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Kentucky Bridge Painter Killed in Electrical Accident

Kentucky-Bridge-Painter-Killed-in-Electrical-Accident-ImageNine percent of all construction worker deaths in Kentucky and nationally are caused by electrocutions, according to the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

That makes electrical shocks one of the “Fatal Four” most frequent construction site mishaps.

Electrocution claimed the life of a 35-year-old man working on the Ohio River “blue bridge” painting project in May, according to news accounts.

The victim was part of a crew painting the Glover H. Cary Bridge, which spans the Ohio River and connects Kentucky and southern Indiana, when he apparently came into contact with live power lines.

The accident occurred around 6:30 PM, reports say. Police and fire crews were called to the bridge, where the victim lay unconscious in safety netting at the work site. Workers used a lift to access the netting, cut the injured man loose and bring him down to street level so that he could be taken to a local hospital.

The worker had burns on his hands, indicating that he may have come into contact with energized electrical wires on the bridge. He died later from his injuries.

Fatal Four Causes of Construction Deaths

There were 759 U.S. construction worker fatalities in 2011. The “Fatal Four” – falls, electrocutions, struck by objects and caught-in/between objects – were responsible for nearly three out of five (56 percent) worker deaths.

Here is a breakdown of how those workers were killed:

  • Falls – 259 deaths
  • Electrocutions – 69 deaths
  • Struck by object – 73 deaths
  • Caught-in/between – 18 deaths

In Kentucky, seven people died in construction accidents in 2012 – one more than in 2011.

Workers who are injured on the job, and the families of those who are killed, may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost earnings and other damages.

Talk to a Kentucky workplace injury attorney for more details.

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