Who is Getting Hurt? Understanding the Cause of Fatal Electrical Injuries in The Workplace

Abstract

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), an average of 113 Americans died in the workplace between 2011 and 2020 annually due to contact with electricity. Of these fatalities, 32% were in occupations that can be considered electrical occupations with employees who have received training on electrical safety and the relevant codes and standards of working around electricity. This paper reviews the commonalities involved in electrical occupation fatalities with a specific focus on the human factor involved in the workplace death and the day the fatality occurred. By understanding the common trends within electrical occupation electrical fatalities, the specific actions and behaviors that lead to electrical fatalities can be addressed.