How Electric Shock Affects the Human Body: What Construction Workers Must Know

The effects of electric shock on the human body can range from a mild tingling sensation to cardiac arrest, deep burns, and death. For construction workers in New York, the stakes are especially high: electrocution is one of OSHA’s Fatal Four — the four hazard categories responsible for the majority of construction deaths each year. Nearly half of all fatal electrical injuries in the United States occur in the construction industry.

Understanding how electricity damages the body is not just a matter of curiosity. It can help you recognize the severity of an injury, respond correctly in an emergency, and know when a workplace accident points to something bigger — like an employer who failed to follow basic electrical safety standards.

If you or a coworker has been injured by electric shock on a job site, construction accident lawyers at Gorayeb & Associates can help you understand your rights and protect the value of your case. Your consultation is free, and our team is available 24/7.

How Electric Current Moves Through the Human Body

The human body is a good conductor of electricity. When a worker contacts a live wire, energized equipment, or a faulty tool, current enters the body at the point of contact — the entry wound — travels through internal tissues along the path of least resistance, and exits at a second point of contact with a grounded surface — the exit wound.

Entry wounds are typically small and charred. Exit wounds tend to be larger and can be explosive in nature, because the current concentrates as it leaves the body. Between entry and exit, the current can damage every tissue it passes through: skin, muscle, nerves, blood vessels, and organs.

The severity of an electrical injury depends on several factors: the voltage and amperage of the current, the duration of contact, the path the current takes through the body (hand-to-hand or hand-to-foot, for example), the type of current (AC is generally more dangerous than DC at the same amperage), and the resistance of the skin at the point of contact. Wet skin has dramatically lower resistance than dry skin, which is why electrical accidents on rain-soaked construction sites can be especially severe.

How Much Electricity Is Dangerous? Current Thresholds

Electrical injuries are measured not by voltage alone but by the amount of current (in milliamperes, or mA) that flows through the body. Here is what happens at each threshold:

• 1 mA: Perception threshold — a faint tingling sensation. Most people can feel the current but are not harmed.
• 5–10 mA: Let-go threshold — involuntary muscle contractions begin. At this level, a worker may be unable to release a gripped tool or wire.
• 10–20 mA: Sustained contraction and possible loss of consciousness. Breathing may become difficult.
• 20–50 mA: Severe muscle contractions, possible convulsions, and respiratory difficulty. Prolonged exposure can be fatal.
• 50–100 mA: Ventricular fibrillation threshold — the heart’s electrical rhythm is disrupted. This is the most common cause of death from electric shock.
• Above 100 mA: Sustained cardiac arrest, severe internal burns, and organ failure. Death is likely without immediate intervention.

Standard construction-site electrical systems operate at 120V to 480V or higher. At these voltages, even brief contact can push current well past the fibrillation threshold — especially if the worker’s skin is wet or the contact path crosses the chest.

Types of Electrical Injuries

Contact Burns (Entry and Exit Wounds)

When current passes directly through the body, it generates heat along its path. The most visible damage occurs at the entry and exit points, but the worst injuries are often internal — deep tissue destruction that is not visible on the surface, as OSHA’s documented electrical burn cases illustrate. Muscles, nerves, and blood vessels along the current’s path can be severely burned even when the skin appears relatively intact.

Arc Flash Burns

An arc flash occurs when electricity jumps through the air between conductors or from a conductor to a grounded surface. Arc flash temperatures can exceed 35,000°F — hotter than the surface of the sun. Workers caught in an arc flash can suffer severe burn injuries to exposed skin, even without direct contact with a live conductor.

Flame Burns

Arc flashes and electrical faults can ignite clothing, insulation, or nearby flammable materials. Flame burns from an electrical event are treated as thermal burns, but the underlying cause — a workplace electrical failure — may point to employer negligence or code violations.

Cardiac Effects

Electric current passing through the chest can disrupt the heart’s electrical system. The most dangerous result is ventricular fibrillation — a chaotic, ineffective heartbeat that stops blood flow to the brain and organs. Even after resuscitation, some survivors develop persistent arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats) that require long-term monitoring and treatment.

Neurological and Muscular Damage

Electricity can damage peripheral nerves, the spinal cord, and the brain. Nerve damage may cause chronic pain, numbness, tingling, or loss of motor function. Severe muscle contractions during the shock (tetany) can fracture bones and tear tendons. A condition called rhabdomyolysis — the breakdown of damaged muscle tissue — can release proteins that overwhelm the kidneys, leading to kidney failure. A clinical review of electrical injuries published through the National Institutes of Health details these mechanisms and their long-term implications.

Long-Term Health Effects of Electric Shock

Even when a worker survives an electrical injury and receives immediate medical care, the long-term consequences can reshape daily life. These effects fall into three categories:

Physical

• Chronic pain at entry and exit wound sites
• Fatigue and reduced stamina
• Joint stiffness, especially in hands and arms
• Night sweats and temperature sensitivity
• Scarring from deep burns — may require multiple surgeries and skin grafts

Neurological

• Memory loss and difficulty concentrating
• Persistent tingling, numbness, or burning sensations (neuropathy)
• Loss of balance and coordination
• Headaches and dizziness
• Delayed nerve damage that appears weeks or months after the injury

Psychological

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Depression and anxiety
• Insomnia and sleep disturbances
• Panic attacks triggered by proximity to electrical equipment
• Fear of returning to work

These long-term effects are why electrical injuries on construction sites often lead to claims that go well beyond workers’ compensation. When a worker cannot return to the same job — or any job — the financial impact compounds over years. Read about 10 examples of construction accidents in New York to see how workplace injuries affect workers’ long-term outcomes.

First Aid for Electric Shock on a Construction Site

If you witness an electrical injury on a job site, your response in the first minutes can determine whether the worker survives. Follow these steps:

• Call 911 immediately — or direct someone nearby to call while you respond.
• Do not touch the injured worker. They may still be in contact with the live source. Use a dry, non-conductive object (wood, rubber, plastic) to separate the person from the current if it cannot be shut off.
• Shut off the power source if it is safe to do so. On a construction site, this may mean flipping a breaker, pulling a plug, or using a lockout/tagout device.
• Check for breathing and pulse once the worker is clear of the current. If there are no signs of life, begin CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) immediately.
• Do not move the worker unless they are in immediate danger. Electrical injuries can cause spinal cord damage, and moving the person incorrectly could make it worse.
• Do not touch burns or attempt to remove burned clothing. Cover the wounds loosely with a clean, dry cloth and wait for paramedics.

For more on preventing these injuries in the first place, read our guide to construction site safety tips in New York.

Your Legal Rights After an Electrical Injury on a New York Construction Site

Electrocution is one of OSHA’s Fatal Four hazards, accounting for approximately 8.5% of all construction fatalities. In 2026, OSHA penalties for serious electrical safety violations reach $16,550 per violation, and willful or repeat violations can cost employers up to $165,514. An OSHA violation on your job site can serve as powerful evidence in a personal injury case.

New York’s labor laws provide some of the strongest protections in the country for injured construction workers:

• Labor Law §200 requires property owners and general contractors to maintain a reasonably safe workplace. If your employer knew about exposed wiring or faulty equipment and failed to correct it, this statute may apply.
• Labor Law §240 (the Scaffold Law) imposes strict liability for gravity-related injuries. When electrical contact causes a fall from a height or a worker is struck by a falling energized object, §240 protections apply — no need to prove negligence.
• Labor Law §241(6) imposes a non-delegable duty on owners and contractors to comply with the Industrial Code’s specific safety rules, including electrical safety standards under 29 CFR Part 1926 Subpart K.

Understanding the effects of electric shock on the human body is critical for any construction worker in New York — not only for prevention, but for knowing when a workplace injury points to employer negligence. At Gorayeb & Associates, we have spent more than 40 years representing injured construction workers across the five boroughs and surrounding metro area, recovering more than $2 billion in verdicts and settlements. Our fee comes out of the money we recover for you, not out of your pocket.

If you or a coworker has suffered an electrical injury on a job site, do not assume the effects of electric shock on the human body will resolve on their own — many injuries worsen over time. Gorayeb & Associates is ready to review your case and protect what matters before critical evidence is lost. Your consultation is free. Our team is available 24/7.