Electrical Accidents: Shocking Statistics
Electrical accidents account for one-tenth of all job-related fatalities as well as scores of serious injuries. One of the major electrical hazards is shock: what happens when electric current goes through the human body because a wire has not been enclosed properly, or has defective insulation, or because a worker has made direct contact with “live” electricity such as a power line.
The risk of serious injury increases with the length of contact with electric current, especially if the current enters the body near the heart. It does not take much power for an electrical accident to cause death in the form of electrocution.
Electrical accidents resulting in shock can also cause pain; loss of muscle control and coordination; internal bleeding; damage to nerves, muscles, or tissues; and cardiac arrest. Employees can become further injured by falling after receiving an electric shock.
Causes of Electrical Accidents
Electricity and water are a deadly combination. When water creates moisture in the air or on the skin, it can change the body into a conductor. If a worker with wet or sweaty hands plugs in an electrical device, an electrical accident can result in shock.
Another type of electrical accident is electric burn. If employees touch overheated equipment, or if current flows through the body, the result can be serious burns of skin and/or internal tissues.
Overloading circuits or equipment can also cause an electrical accident when overheating results in a fire or explosion. This is especially dangerous in areas that contain flammable or explosive substances.
Avoiding Electrical Accidents
There are a number of commonsense safety procedures that can help prevent electrical accidents. For example, employees should…
- Inspect electrical equipment and wires before use to make sure they’re properly insulated and grounded and that electrical connections are tight.
- Avoid de-energizing or re-energizing live parts unless employees have been properly trained to follow specific procedures such as turning off power at the switch box, and then locking out and tagging the switch so it cannot be turned on accidentally.
- Use protective equipment such as rubber gloves or boots when they work with electrical equipment.
- Avoid using extension cords whenever possible.
- Make sure electric plugs match their receptacles; never alter a plug.
- Refrain from using any piece of electrical equipment that sparks, smokes, smells, or shocks.
- Never use a metal ladder around live electricity.
- Obey barriers, signs, and other warnings to stay away from electrical equipment.
- Practice good housekeeping procedures such as not allowing grease, dust, or dirt to build up on machinery and never leaving electrical cords tangled or lying across an area where people walk.