The family of a construction worker who died after being electrocuted at the site of a new data center in Fayetteville, Georgia, is suing one of the contractors on the project.

Anthony J. Riera Azuaje, 25, died in hospital four days after being electrocuted at the site of a new QTS data center in Fayetteville, 22 miles (35.4km) south of Atlanta.

Now a complaint has been filed against electrical contracting firm Allison-Smith Company, alleging negligent practices contributed to his death.

QTS is not named as a party in the lawsuit.

According to a report in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Riera Azuaje’s parents, Perpetio Antonio Riera Graterol and Noris Maritza Azuaje Montilla, say Allison-Smith violated National Electrical Code requirements when they installed temporary power connections to buildings at the site.

The lawsuit claims Allison-Smith installed the wrong fittings and failed to properly ground cables, causing a metal conduit to become energized.

Riera Azuaje was employed by a different contractor working on the project, Andrew Electric, and the suit claims he was operating a scissor lift when he “made incidental contact” with the dangerous conduit, and was electrocuted.

Tony Buzbee, a lawyer representing the family, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “This case is a stark reminder that a workplace can be very dangerous, indeed fatal, when mistakes are made by those responsible for making sure things are safe.”

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages from Allison-Smith. DCD has contacted the firm for comment.

QTS, which is owned by Blackstone, revealed plans for a 6.6 million sq ft (613,160 sqm) data center campus in Fayetteville in 2022. At full build-out it will have 16 buildings on the 615-acre site.

Work got underway in 2023, with full build-out targeted for 2032.