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$800,000 • Workplace Safety

An electrician was installing a meter a commercial facility, a common electrical procedure. The electrician followed all safety procedures required to properly install and verify the meter. Regardless of his precautions, there was an explosion. The electrician was blinded by a flash of light. He staggered away with his hair, hands, arms and shirt on fire. He was evacuated to an emergency burn center.

MD&L immediately filed a court order to preserve the work site and conduct electrical inspections, video-tape the scene and preserve all components of the meter board and connections as evidence for trial. MD&L retained well-respected electricians and engineers to conduct the investigation. The investigation revealed that the electrical outlet to which the meter was plugged was not equipped with a circuit breaker in violation of New Jersey and National Electric Code, thus leaving the worker inserting the meter unprotected from arching and electrical explosion.