The Shocking Truth About Electrical Accidents

We take electricity for granted. As a result, few people think about the dangers of electricity and are surprise to learn that electrical accidents represent 10 percent of all construction and other job related fatalities. The risk of serious injury or death grows the longer a human body is in contact with an electric current. If the electricity enters the body near the heart, the risk of death is very high. If it enters the body through an extremity, such as a foot or hand, the victim may suffer serious burns or may die, depending on the length of the exposure to the current.

Victims who are not killed by their contact with electricity suffer other injuries in addition to serious burns: loss of muscle control, bleeding, nerve damage, and pain. Individuals can be further injured when they fall from heights because of an electric shock.

Safety Tips for Working Around Electricity

People can take precautions to protect themselves from an electrical injury or fatality:

•· Check connections and equipment before using tools, equipment, lights and any electrical device

•· Learn the correct procedure for turning off power

•· Use protective equipment such as rubber boots when working with electrical equipment

•· Refrain from using extension cords if possible

•· Ensure that plugs match the receptacles

•· Do not use equipment that sparks, smokes, or smells as if it’s burning

•· Do not use a metal ladder when electrical work is involved

•· Stay away from electrical equipment, obeying warning signs

•· Clean tools and equipment regularly, especially looking out for grease and dirt

•· Do not leave cords unsecured in areas where people walk

Following safety tips such as these can reduce your chances of being injured or killed in an electrical accident.

Source:Safety.BLR.Com, “Electrical Accidents: Shocking Statistics”