A maintenance worker suffered burn injuries Friday morning after accidentally touching a high-voltage cable while waterproofing a roof in Ensenada’s Colonia Bustamante neighborhood.
The man was working on top of the Carnicería Guzmán, a butcher shop with apartments above it, when he made contact with an overhead power line. The electrical current entered through his arm and exited through his hand, causing burns to both areas.
Emergency Crews Respond to Bustamante Neighborhood
Firefighters, Civil Protection personnel, and Red Cross paramedics responded to the scene. Red Cross staff treated the worker on site for his injuries.
The man’s final medical condition was not immediately confirmed, and it remains unclear whether he was transported to a hospital for further treatment. High-voltage electrical shocks can cause internal damage that is not always visible, making follow-up medical evaluation critical even when external injuries appear limited.
Overhead Power Lines a Persistent Hazard
Exposed overhead electrical cables are common across Ensenada’s older neighborhoods, where power lines often run close to rooftops and building facades. Colonia Bustamante, located in Ensenada’s central urban area, features the kind of dense, low-rise construction where workers on rooftops can easily come within arm’s reach of live wires.
Rooftop waterproofing is routine seasonal maintenance for property owners throughout Baja California, typically performed before the winter rainy season or after leaks develop. Workers often apply sealant or membrane coatings by hand or with rollers, bringing them into close proximity with power lines that pass directly over or beside buildings.
Mexico’s Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) is responsible for maintaining the country’s power distribution infrastructure, including overhead cables in residential areas. Safety advocates have long called for greater separation between power lines and structures, as well as insulation improvements on exposed cables in densely built neighborhoods.
The incident was first reported by Ensenada.net.