Ocean City, NJ (April 29, 2026) – Two workers were seriously hurt and flown to a Philadelphia burn center after a metal ladder made contact with electrical wires at a job site on Monday, April 28, in the 100 block of Somerset Lane in Ocean City.
The incident happened just before 9 a.m. One of the workers was moving a metal ladder along the outside of a home when it struck overhead electrical wires. The worker experienced an electric shock. A second worker was hurt after grabbing the ladder while trying to help.
Both workers were treated at the scene before being airlifted to a Level 1 trauma center at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. Their conditions were not available at the time of this report.
The incident remains under review by authorities.
We are thinking of both workers and their families as they receive care.
What Makes Electrical Contact Accidents on Job Sites So Dangerous in New Jersey
Contact between metal objects and live electrical wires is one of the leading causes of serious injury on outdoor job sites across New Jersey. Metal ladders conduct electricity instantly, and the shock can pass from one person to another through direct contact, which is why bystanders who try to help can also be hurt. The severity of the injury depends on the voltage of the wires and how long the contact lasts.
Burns from electrical incidents are treated differently than burns from heat or fire. They can cause damage deep beneath the skin that may not be visible right away, which is why victims are frequently sent to specialized burn centers. Trauma centers equipped to handle electrical injuries have the tools and expertise to assess and treat the full extent of the harm caused.
