“They said it was nothing serious”: An electrical fault at work ended in injury

In reality, however, risks are sometimes underestimated. One employee, Tomas (name changed), agreed to share his experience. What initially seemed like a simple technical task nearly ended in tragedy.

A moment in the transformer station that nearly turned fatal

Tomas worked at a manufacturing company and was performing maintenance work in a transformer station that day. The task appeared routine — inspect the electrical equipment and fix a minor issue.

“They told me it was nothing complicated, just to check what was wrong. It sounded like a normal situation, nothing unusual,” he recalls.

The work was progressing normally, but later it became clear that some of the wires had been connected incorrectly.

“At the time, I didn’t even think about it. Everything looked fine, and I didn’t notice any obvious danger,” Tomas says.

While inspecting the equipment, he accidentally touched exposed live wires.

“It happened in a split second. I felt a massive electric shock — like a powerful wave went through my entire body. In that moment, I completely lost control,” he explains.

The shock was so severe that Tomas began experiencing convulsions.

“My arms and my whole body started jerking uncontrollably. I couldn’t stop it. That was the moment I became truly terrified — I honestly thought that was the end,” he says.

A few moments later, he collapsed and suffered additional injuries in the fall. Tomas remembers very little after that.

“I only remember thinking that I might not survive. Then everything went dark,” he says.

Tomas regained consciousness in the hospital.

“I woke up bandaged up — my hands were burned, my entire body hurt. My family was standing around me, waiting for me to wake up. That’s when I realized how serious it really was,” he recalls.

Doctors diagnosed electrical burns as well as an arm injury caused by the fall. Fortunately, he managed to avoid fatal consequences.

“Now I understand that it was never a ‘small issue.’ There’s no such thing as ‘quick and simple’ when it comes to electricity. One careless action can end very badly,” Tomas says.

After the incident, he completely changed his attitude toward workplace safety.

“Now I approach everything much more carefully — I double-check, I don’t rush, and I assess the risks properly. It’s a lesson I’ll never forget,” he admits.

There Are No “Minor Issues” When It Comes to Electricity

Cases like this once again highlight that working with electrical equipment requires maximum responsibility and should never be approached casually or based solely on experience. The State Labour Inspectorate emphasizes that before carrying out high-risk tasks, all potential hazards must be carefully assessed, preventive measures must be implemented, and the work must be organized in a way that ensures continuous safety control.

When working in transformer stations or with electrical systems, several key principles are essential:

• only properly trained and instructed employees should perform the work;
• all risks must be assessed before work begins to ensure safe working conditions;
• employers are responsible for organizing work so employees are protected from electrical hazards;
• continuous workplace health and safety supervision must be maintained.

The State Labour Inspectorate also clearly states that responsibility for employee safety lies with the employer — it is not an optional measure or an additional precaution. If safety requirements are ignored and an employee is harmed as a result, the employer may be held accountable.

This story serves as an important reminder: there are no “small issues” when working with electricity. Even the smallest overlooked hazard can result in a serious injury. Workplace safety should therefore never become a formality — it must remain a daily responsibility shared by both employers and employees.

For more information or assistance, employees and employers can contact the State Labour Inspectorate:

• Phone: +370 5213 9772
• Email: [email protected]

More information: VDI Lietuva.