Below we explain how specific failures with Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and machine guarding breach well-known safety rules and help prove fault in serious injury and wrongful death cases.

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Why Arc Flash and Electrocution Cases Are Different

Arc flash and electrical shock injuries happen in milliseconds and leave catastrophic harm including severe burns, cardiac complications, traumatic amputations, and fatal injuries. Because the hazards are well-known and preventable, the law expects employers and site controllers to implement basic controls. When they don’t, they can be held liable.

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1) LOTO Failures: A Direct Path to Liability

What the rule requires. During servicing or maintenance, employers must isolate and lock out hazardous energy so machines cannot start unexpectedly and stored energy cannot release. They must also have written energy-control procedures, proper devices, and training for authorized employees.

Negligence indicators we look for:

• No written energy-control procedures for the specific machine or process.
• Workers “tag only,” use shared keys, or rely on breakers as locks.
• No verification of zero energy (no test/try step).
• Contractors told to “just be quick” instead of shutting equipment down.
• Missing audits of LOTO procedures and training records.

Any one of these can show a breach of duty relative to the LOTO standard and strongly supports negligence.

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2) PPE Gaps in Arc-Flash Work

What the rule requires. Employers must assess hazards and provide (and pay for) PPE suitable for the task, such as arc-rated clothing, face shields/hoods, voltage-rated gloves, and hearing protection, based on a risk assessment or PPE category tables.

Negligence indicators we look for:

• No arc-flash risk assessment or one that is outdated for the current equipment.
• Workers performing energized tasks without arc-rated apparel at the required ATPV/cal/cm² rating.
• No proof-testing/inspecting rubber gloves and insulating tools.
• “One-size-fits-all” PPE bins with no sizing or task-based selection.

When PPE doesn’t match the task’s arc-energy exposure, the employer has failed a basic obligation.

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3) Unguarded or Improperly Guarded Machines

What the rule requires. Employers must provide one or more methods of guarding to protect workers from point-of-operation, nip points, rotating parts, flying chips, and sparks. Guards and safety devices must be appropriate and maintained.

Negligence indicators we look for:

• Removed or defeated interlocks to “keep production moving.”
• Missing barrier guards around belts, pulleys, gears, and rotating shafts.
• Exposed live parts after covers are removed for cleaning or jam clearing.
• Reliance on signage where a physical guard is feasible.

These are classic, documented violations that endanger anyone in the machine area.

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4) Energized Work Without Justification

Even outside maintenance, safety-related work practices require preventing contact with energized parts, de-energizing when possible, and verifying absence of voltage before work begins. “Live work” must be justified, and protective measures must match the hazard.

Negligence indicators we look for:

• No written energized work permit or justification.
• No boundary markings (limited/restricted/arc-flash boundary).
• Absence of qualified-person verification (testing for absence of voltage).

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Evidence That Turns Safety Gaps Into Proof

In investigations and litigation, the following items often make or break an electrical case:

• Energy-control procedures and LOTO device inventories for the exact equipment.
• Training records and audits for LOTO and electrical safe-work practices.
• Arc-flash risk assessments, one-line diagrams, and short-circuit/coordination studies demonstrating known incident energy at each location.
• PPE policies and purchase/inspection logs (e.g., rubber glove test dates).
• Machine guarding inspections, photographs, and maintenance work orders showing missing or defeated guards.
• Energized work permits or the absence of them when live work was performed.

When these documents are missing or show noncompliance, they strongly support negligence and causation.

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What To Do After an Electrical Injury

1. Get medical care immediately and follow all treatment instructions.
2. Preserve the scene if possible. Do not repair or restart equipment until it’s documented.
3. Collect names of supervisors, witnesses, contractors, and any third parties on site.
4. Photograph guards, lock points, control panels, breaker positions, tags/locks, and posted arc-flash labels.
5. Save PPE and clothing involved in the incident.
6. Contact experienced counsel early. Fast action helps secure critical evidence before it’s altered or lost.

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How McEldrew Purtell Can Help

Electrical and industrial cases move quickly; evidence can disappear just as fast. Our team knows where to find proof of safety breakdowns such as LOTO lapses, missing PPE, and unguarded machinery and how to hold the right companies accountable. We work with top electrical engineers and safety experts to reconstruct what happened and build a clear, fact-based case.

If you or a loved one suffered an electrocution, arc-flash burn, or a fatal electrical injury, contact McEldrew Purtell today for a free, confidential consultation. We’ll review your situation, explain your options, and take immediate steps to protect your rights.