Electricians undergo specialized training and spend several years developing their skills to complete their work safely. However, even the best trained electricians are constantly exposed to on-the-job risks that can result in injury or even death.

Here, we will be looking at the top five causes of accidents electricians face on any job. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has identified these risks to electricians and electrical workers by the following categories:

Overexertion and Stress-Related Injuries

While these types of injuries are generally considered non-fatal, they can cause long-term and often debilitating injuries to the back, hands, and neck as a result from these activities, reducing the person’s quality of life and prolonged discomfort. Some of these injuries can be a result of:

• Staying in one position of an extended period of time
• Prolonged use of vibrating tools
• Continued standing for an extended period of time
• Using force repeatedly while using tools or performing tasks

Fall Injuries

By using ladders and working at heights more often than not, there is a heightened risk of fall injuries to electricians and electrical workers. Many jobs require the electrical worker to work above the ground using a ladder or other form of elevation. Also, fall injuries can be secondary injuries, for example, electrocution could trigger a fall.

Burn Injuries from Electrical Currents or Arc Flashes

Burn injuries can be sustained when coming into direct contact with electrical currents or from arc flashes. An arc flash happens when high amperage current arcs. When an arc happens, it can reach a temperature as high as 36,000 degrees Fahrenheit. It only takes a matter of seconds for a burn injury to be deadly from an arc flash.

Injuries Due to Electrical Shock

According to OSHA, these non-fatal injuries happen mostly in the hands, and happen when coming into direct contact with a live electrical current from wiring or electrical equipment. Immediate medical attention for an electrical shock injury is critical in preventing possible permanent damage.

Death by Electrical Shock

When an electrician or electrical worker is exposed to too much electrical current for a prolonged time, death can occur. Keep in mind, a current greater than 75mA will disrupt the heartbeat and will require a defibrillator to correct the ineffective heartbeat. As an example, a normal power drill uses 30 times the current.

Making Electrical Employee Safety a Top Priority

At Allstar Electrical, we are not only committed to providing quality service when you need it, but also to the safety of our employees. We continually provide safety training to ensure all of our employees work safely to minimize the risks associated with performing their jobs. By providing the highest levels of training and creating a safe workplace, we help to reduce the risk to our valued employees as they perform electrical service and repairs on the job.

For more information on our company and services, give us a call at (303) 399-7420