More than 21,000 workers in the U.S. have been injured and 1,500 have died in workplace electrical accidents since 2008, according to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), a nonprofit educational and training organization based in Arlington, Virginia.
In response to this problem, the foundation has released updated safety training materials. These include an extensive collection of instructional videos, infographics, practical tips, and templates and tools employers can use to promote electrical safety in the workplace.
“Sixty-four percent of all electrical fatalities on the job occur in occupations that traditionally receive little to no electrical training, such as landscapers, roofers, HVAC technicians, welders, plumbers and truck drivers,” says ESFI president Brett Brenner. “Our goal is to help employees better understand how easily electrical safety can be incorporated into their daily routines, whether that work takes place in an office, on a job site or in a manufacturing setting.”
Brenner notes that while electrical hazards are not the leading cause of on-the-job injuries, they are disproportionately fatal and costly. The good news, he says, is that most on-the-job electrocutions and electrical injuries can be prevented with proper training.
All electrical work should be completed by qualified electrical workers, ESFI says.
The following are electrical safety tips from ESFI to remind employees how to make the work environment safer:
Before starting work
- Perform a risk assessment before starting any job.
- Ensure all electrical conductors and circuit parts are in an electrically-safe working condition.
- Gather all the necessary tools to complete a project before starting.
- Ensure that all the necessary parts of a machine are properly guarded to reduce the likelihood of electrical contact or arcing faults.
- Ask your employer for the necessary training and experience for a project to reduce the risk of injury.
Overhead power line safety
- Locate all power lines before starting any work.
- Keep yourself and your equipment at least 10 feet away from all overhead power lines.
- Never touch anything in contact with a power line.
- Be wary of any fencing near power lines, as fences can conduct electricity if they touch power lines.
- Carry ladders horizontally to reduce the risk of touching power lines.
- Do not spray water or liquid cleaners near any power lines.
- Stay 35 feet away from any fallen power lines.
For a complete list of electrical safety precautions, videos and additional resources, visit the organization’s Electrical Workplace Safety Information page.