Francisco Ruiz-Reyes Died In Chicago Electrocution Accident at Construction Site

Wrongful Death - March 2, 2025

Francisco Ruiz-Reyes (Full Name: Francisco Javier Ruiz-Reyes), of Harvey, Illinois, Died In Chicago Electrocution Accident That Injured another Worker at Apartment Construction Site

Francisco Ruiz-Reyes Died In Chicago Electrocution Accident at Construction Site

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (March 2, 2025) – A worker identified as Francisco Ruiz-Reyes was killed in a West Side, Chicago construction site accident.

Cook County officials are saying that the accident took place on Tuesday by the intersection of West Ogden Avenue and South Holman Avenue in North Lawndale. Francisco Ruiz-Reyes and another worker were on a crane next to power lines.

The platform that they were on became energized and electrocuted them. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene in order to help both of the victims.

Both were transported to Mount Sinai Hospital in order to receive treatment. A 26-year-old worker was able to survive the incident.

Tragically, Francisco Ruiz-Reyes died due to the severe nature of his injuries. ConEd told reporters that the two men did not work for the company nor were contracted by them.

It remains unclear who the two men worked for at the time of the fatal accident. A full investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration remains ongoing.

Liability for Workplace Electrocution Accidents

Electrocutions are one of the major causes of preventable injury and death at construction sites. According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International, “Contact with or exposure to electricity continues to be one of the leading causes of workplace fatalities and injuries in the United States. Between 2011 and 2021, there was a total of 1,201 workplace fatalities involving electricity reported by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and 1,653 electrical fatalities reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.” Construction companies should take a number of measures in order to prevent electrocution hazards.

  • Construction companies should ensure that all of their workers are trained on electrical safety.
  • Construction companies should routinely install ground fault circuit interrupters on all electrical circuits.
  • Construction companies should routinely inspect all of their tools and equipment.
  • Construction workers should follow all lockout/tagout procedures.

When a worker is injured or killed in Illinois, they or their family will typically have legal recourse through the workers compensation system. This is a no-fault insurance system designed to help injured workers and their families. There is no need for an injured worker to demonstrate that one or more parties are at fault for their injuries. In addition to workers’ compensation, a third-party liability claim may be possible if an entity separate from the worker’s employer contributed to an accident.

There could be numerous sources of third-party liability for any construction site electrocution. For example, a construction site owner or general contractor could be liable for failing to implement adequate safety measures. Specifically, OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1926.1408(a) requires that cranes maintain a safe distance from all power lines in order to prevent the two from accidentally touching. If a crane was allowed to operate too close to power lines, this could potentially be considered a violation.

The company that manufactured a crane could also potentially be held at fault for an electrocution. Manufacturers have a legal obligation to follow federal safety standards designed to prevent electrocutions involving cranes and power lines. Cranes are supposed to have proximity sensors, warning lights, and automatic shut-off systems to prevent them from coming into contact with power lines. See, for example, OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1408. This technology has been around for many decades. It is important that certain steps are taken after any power line electrocution accident.

  • The crane involved in any electrocution accident should be inspected.
  • Medical records related to the incident should be preserved.
  • The investigation and report produced by OSHA should be reviewed.
  • It should be determined if any workplace violation contributed to the accident.

It could be hard to know where to begin after any construction accident. This is particularly true for family members who lose a loved one. In the vast majority of cases, workplace electrocutions are preventable. Sadly, though, general contractors and equipment manufacturers will often do everything in their power to deny responsibility if someone is injured or killed in an electrocution. This is why it is so important that any workplace fatality is properly investigated by an outside party.

Investigating Chicago Construction Site Electrocutions

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of Francisco Ruiz-Reyes. It is our sincere hope that the other victim will be able to recover from their injuries. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to OSHA. There needs to be a thorough investigation so that similar tragedies may be averted.

Do you need more information about a Chicago workplace accident? Our team of worker safety advocates is here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that workers are aware of their legal rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any incident, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.