Warehouse Owner Charged in Electrocution Case

A South Brunswick warehouse owner is now facing criminal charges in connection with an alleged electrocution of an employee after being criminally charged in the matter on Oct. 6, authorities state. According to police, the owner, a 38-year-old resident of Canada, had claimed there was no electricity running to a machine by which the employee was found unconscious. The owner claimed the employee had simply suffered a heart attack.

According to police, an investigation into the man’s injuries revealed he had been electrocuted. Police reportedly uncovered that the conveyor belt had been connected to a neighboring business by the use of extension cords and did have electricity running to it. Subsequently, the warehouse owner was arrested for allegedly lying to law enforcement authorities in an attempt to avoid liability.

The 48-year-old victim was found lying on the floor on Sept. 11 around 4:14 pm with no pulse. After emergency personnel administered CPR, the man was flown to St. Barnabas Medical Center for treatment, where he remained for several days before being released. In addition to the owner’s pending criminal charges, the company was fined $52,000 by the South Brunswick Fire Marshal for the unsafe conditions at the warehouse.

In addition to fines and criminal liability, business owners in cases like this can also face civil liability for their wrongful actions. In especially egregious cases, they may also be assessed punitive damages in addition to other damages for their behavior. Workers injured while on the job may wish to consult with a personal injury attorney who practices in the area of workers’ compensation. The attorney may be able to review the individual facts of a case and advise their clients of all potential claims and recoverable damages.

Source: NJ.com, “South Brunswick warehouse owner charged after worker is electrocuted“, Anthony G. Attrino, October 06, 2014