Protecting Non-Qualified Workers from Electrical Risks
EHS professionals know how dangerous electricity is in the workplace. OSHA reports that approximately 9% of fatalities in the workplace are due to electrocution, and refers to electrocution as one of the “fatal four” of workplace risks.
In the US, data indicates that nearly one fatality is caused by electrical hazards every day, and annual injuries from electrical hazards total around 4,000. These fatalities are frequently due to very avoidable situations, and often caused by unexpected presence of electricity.
One of the top causes of electrocutions is when workers come into contact with energized sources after failure to recognize them as a risk. Some electrocutions are a result of contact with overhead power lines, and in several of these incidents the workers mistook them for telephone wires. These fatalities can also be caused by improper use of extension and flexible cords.
These kinds of risks are not just applicable to qualified workers, but to unqualified as well. Occupations such as painting, tree trimming, maintenance, and even office workers could be put in a situation involving one of these hazards.
OSHA-Reported Electrical Fatalities
Of the 1011 electrical fatalities reported to OSHA between 2011-2019, 68% of all fatalities occurred in non-electrical occupations. Some of the most at-risk occupations for electrical fatalities included: blue collar supervisors, machine and equipment operators, mechanics and repairers, painters, riggers and roustabouts, stationary engineers, and welders.
The cause of 1/3rd of the fatalities for non-qualified workers (265 of 683 fatalities) was misjudgement of a hazardous situation. The non-qualified workers either underestimated the risk present, or were entirely unaware of it. The vast majority of these fatalities (535 of 683 fatalities) were caused by electrical apparatuses or wiring.
Of all of the fatalities where voltage was reported (among qualified and non-qualified workers alike) 43% of the fatalities were caused by low voltage, and 57% at high voltage.
Thetwo most commonly reported voltages present in the fatality were 7200V (68 of 326 fatalities) and 480V (50 of 326 fatalities). 277V and 120V had a combined total of 51 reported cases (of the326 fatalities where voltage was reported).
From this data it is clear that the risk of electrical incidents in the workplace is present for all sorts of occupations, and come from many different sources. This wide-spread risk means that all workers, not just those expecting to be around electricity or those who are expecting to be around high voltage, need to be protected by their organization.
How to Protect Your Non-Qualified Workers
Given that the overwhelming majority of electrical fatalities occurred in non-electrical occupations, it is imperative to ensure that your organization’s H&S plan covers electrical safety even for those who may not expect to encounter electrical hazards. This safety plan should include education and training, as many of these workers may be unfamiliar with the risks.
When creating an electrical safety plan for non-qualified workers, it is important to ensure the message is tailored to them. Using unfamiliar terms and jargon can alienate and confuse workers, and may result in them not understanding the potential risks.
The safety plan should also include several aspects of the Hierarchy of Hazard Control, not just PPE. By including administrative controls you will increase the safety of the workers, and avoid more potentially hazardous situations.
Creating processes and expectations for safety from the top-down is very important in protecting workers. However, if an organization does not have a culture of safety, this work may not have the impact you expect. For ideas and suggestions on how to create a culture of safety in your organization, check out this post.