Mitcheal Nelson Killed in Granite City Electrocution Accident
Unsafe Premises - July 14, 2026
Mitcheal Nelson, 62, of Bridgeton, Missouri, Died In Electrocution Involving Malfunctioning Transformer at the U.S. Steel Mill Cold Plant on State Street in Granite City
GRANITE CITY, ILLINOIS (July 14, 2026) – A 62-year-old worker identified as Mitcheal Nelson has tragically died in a Granite City electrocution accident at the U.S. Steel Mill Cold Plant.
Madison County officials are saying that the incident occurred during a storm that was happening around 5:00 a.m. on Saturday. Mitcheal Nelson was attempting to turn off a malfunctioning transformer at U.S. Steel Mill Cold Plant.
At some point during that course of work, he was electrocuted and seriously injured. EMS were called to the scene immediately and began life-saving measures to help him.
Unfortunately, Mitcheal Nelson was pronounced dead around 6:20 AM that same morning. A full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for Granite City Electrocution Accidents
Employers in Illinois have a legal obligation to maintain their premises in a safe condition and take reasonable steps to prevent their workers from being injured. According to 29 U.S. Code § 654, “each employer shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees.” Employers should take several actions to protect their workers from electrocutions.
- Lockout/Tagout: Employers should establish and enforce policies related to de-energizing machines that are not currently in use.
- Ground Fault Protection: Employers should install and maintain ground fault circuit interrupters on all power supplies.
- Personal Protective Equipment: Employers should provide all personal protective equipment that is necessary for workers who are facing electrical hazards.
- Proper Grounding: Employers should ensure that all electrical equipment and tools are properly insulated and grounded to provide a safe path for electrical current.
When a worker is injured or killed in the state of Illinois, they will typically have recourse to the workers’ compensation system. This is a no-fault insurance system designed to help workers who were harmed during the course of their job duties. There is no need for a worker to demonstrate that some party acted negligently to receive assistance. In addition to workers’ compensation, there could also be numerous sources of third-party liability for any electrocution accident.
Third-Party Liability for Illinois Electrocution Accidents
Electrocutions are a major cause of preventable injury and death for workers across Illinois in the United States. According to the National Fire Protection Association, “Data from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) indicate that 142 workers died as a result of exposure to electricity in 2023, and that an additional five workers died as a result of exposure to electric arcs. Together, these deaths represent a slight increase from the 145 occupational fatalities due to electrical causes in 2022.” It is possible that several different entities may face liability if a worker is electrocuted in the state of Illinois.
- Equipment Manufacturers: The company that manufactured a transformer or other piece of equipment could bear some legal responsibility if it malfunctions and causes a worker to be seriously injured or killed.
- Service Contractor: A service contractor could also be liable if they were hired to inspect or repair a transformer and left that piece of equipment in a dangerous condition.
- Property Owner: A city or private property owner could be responsible if an electrocution was caused by their failure to maintain a building in a safe condition.
- Utility Company: A utility company may be liable for an electrocution if they received a notice to shut off a transformer during the storm or other emergency and failed to remotely cut the power.
Several utility companies have faced lawsuits after workers were injured or killed in electrocution accidents. Consider, for example, McGill v. Illinois Power Co. An Illinois court upheld a ruling that utility providers can be held directly liable if they do not maintain their infrastructure in a reasonably safe condition. This is particularly true if a utility company fails to isolate active voltage drops that create a dangerous work environment. This is why it is so important for the family of any worker who died in an electrocution accident to carefully consider all of their options under the law.
Investigating Illinois Electrocution Accidents
We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest sympathies to the family of Mitcheal Nelson. There needs to be a thorough investigation by OSHA into what went wrong. It is deeply concerning that any worker may have potentially been subjected to a needlessly dangerous environment. Several questions have yet to be answered related to this incident. Was the utility company instructed to shut off power to this transformer? Who was the last company to work on this particular transformer? Were all OSHA regulations related to transformers being strictly followed?
Do you need more information about an Illinois electrocution accident? Our team of workplace safety advocates is here for you. We are committed to upholding the rights of workers and holding negligent companies fully accountable for their misconduct. You can rest assured that we will get to the bottom of what caused any particular incident and identify all responsible parties. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any incident, we are here to serve your needs. You can contact us anytime at (312) 564-4256.
