An electrician working at a University of Utah construction site suffered a severe electric shock Thursday morning.
Devon Booth, age and address unknown, was working at the site of the new Huntsman Cancer Research Center, 2200 E. Medical Drive, about noon Thursday when the accident occurred, University of Utah Police officer Jeff Johnson said.Witnesses told police an electrical current arced, entered Booth's right hand, shot up his arm and them came back out his arm, Salt Lake City Fire Capt. Devin Villa said.
Dispatchers called the incident a "ground level electrocution."
Johnson said the incident sounded worse than it appeared. Booth was apparently alert, talking and laughing after the accident, although surface burns were visible on his skin.
Salt Lake Fire paramedics transported Booth to University Hospital, where he was treated and released, hospital spokesman John Dwan said.
Booth works for Cache Valley Electric, which is contracted by Jacobsen Construction to do the electrical work on the new medical research center.