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A Summary of Surveillance Findings and Investigative Case Reports
Part I. Electrocution-Related Fatalities
Prevention: Elements of an Electrical Safety Program
Virgil Casini, B. S.
At least one of the following five factors was present in all 224 incidents evaluated
by the FACE program: (1) established safe work procedures were either not implemented or
not followed; (2) adequate or required personal protective equipment was not provided or
worn; (3) lockout/tagout procedures were either not implemented or not followed; (4)
compliance with existing OSHA, NEC, and NESC regulations were not implemented; and (5)
worker and supervisor training in electrical safety was not adequate. These subjects are
addressed in various NIOSH Alerts26-36 and related publications.37
Most of the 224 occupational electrocution incidents investigated as part of the FACE
program could have been prevented through compliance with existing OSHA, NEC, and NESC
regulations; and/or the use of adequate personal protective equipment (PPE). All workers
should receive hazard awareness training so that they will be able to identify existing
and potential hazards present in their workplaces and relate the potential seriousness of
the injuries associated with each hazard. Once these hazards are identified, employers
should develop measures that would allow for their immediate control.
Based on an analysis of these data, to reduce occupational electrocutions, employers
should:
- Develop and implement a comprehensive safety program and, when necessary, revise
existing programs to thoroughly address the area of electrical safety in the workplace.
- Ensure compliance with existing OSHA regulations Subpart S of 29 CFR 1910.302
through 1910.399 of the General Industry Safety and Health Standards3 and
Subpart K of 29 CFR 1926.402 through 1926.408 of the OSHA Construction Safety and Health
Standards.4
- Provide all workers with adequate training in the identification and control of
the hazards associated with electrical energy in their workplace.
- Provide additional specialized electrical safety training to those workers
working with or around exposed components of electric circuits. This training should
include, but not be limited to, training in basic electrical theory, proper safe work
procedures, hazard awareness and identification, proper use of PPE, proper lockout/tagout
procedures, first aid including CPR, and proper rescue procedures. Provisions should be
made for periodic retraining as necessary.
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- Develop and implement procedures to control hazardous electrical energy which
include lockout and tagout procedures and ensure that workers follow these procedures.
- Provide those workers who work directly with electrical energy with testing or detection equipment that
will ensure their safety during performance of their assigned tasks.
- Ensure Compliance with the National Electrical Code5 and the National
Electrical Safety Code.6
- Conduct safety meetings at regular intervals.
- Conduct scheduled and unscheduled safety inspections at work sites.
- Actively encourage all workers to participate in workplace safety.
- In a construction setting, conduct a jobsite survey before starting any work to
identify any electrical hazards, implement appropriate control measures, and provide
training to employees specific to all identified hazards.
- Ensure that proper personal protective equipment is available and worn by
workers where required (including fall protection equipment).
- Conduct job hazard analyses of all tasks that might expose workers to the
hazards associated with electrical energy and implement control measures that will
adequately insulate and isolate workers from electrical energy.
- Identify potential electrical hazards and appropriate safety interventions
during the planning phase of construction or maintenance projects. This planning should
address the project from start to finish to ensure workers have the safest possible work
environment.
The FACE data indicate that although many companies had comprehensive safety programs,
in many cases they were not completely implemented. This underscores the need for
increased management and worker understanding, awareness, and ability to identify the
hazards associated with working on or in proximity to electrical energy. It is the
responsibility of management to provide a safe workplace for their workers and to develop
and implement a comprehensive safety program. In some cases, this may entail the
development of additional worker training, and/or the evaluation and restructuring of
existing safety programs. Management should also provide adequate training in electrical
safety to all workers and strictly enforce adherence to established safe work procedures
and policies. Additionally, adequate personal protective equipment should be available
where appropriate. Information or assistance in accomplishing these measures can be
provided by OSHA, electrical safety consultants, or other agencies or associations that
deal with electrical safety. A strong commitment to safety by both management and workers
is essential in the prevention of severe occupational injuries and death due to contact
with electrical energy.
References
- Occupational Safety and Health Standards [1994 (revised)]. 29 CFR 1910- Occupational
Safety and Health Act of 1970. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.
- Safety and Health Regulations for Construction [1994 (revised)]. 29 CFR 1926-
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing
Office.
- National Electrical Code [1993]. ANSI/NFPA 70. Quincy, MA: National Fire Protection
Association.
- National Electrical Safety Code [1993]. New York: American National Standards
Institute.
- Haddon W Jr. [1968]. The changing approach to the epidemiology, prevention, and
amelioration of trauma: The transition to approaches etiologically rather than
descriptively based. Am J Public Health 58:1431-1438.
- NIOSH [1984]. NIOSH Alert: Request for assistance in preventing electrocutions of
workers in fast food restaurants. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health, Division of Safety Research. DHHS (NIOSH) Publication 85-104.
- NIOSH [1985]. NIOSH Alert: Request for assistance in preventing electrocutions from
contact between cranes and powerlines. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health, Division of Safety Research. DHHS (NIOSH) Publication 85-111 (superseded by 95-108).
- NIOSH [1986]. NIOSH Alert: Request for assistance in preventing grain auger electrocutions.
Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Safety Research.
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication 86-119.
- NIOSH [1986a]. NIOSH Alert: Request for assistance in preventing electrocutions due
to damaged receptacles and connectors. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health, Division of Safety Research. DHHS (NIOSH) Publication 87-100.
- NIOSH [1986b]. NIOSH Alert: Request for assistance in preventing fatalities of
workers who contact electrical energy. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health, Division of Safety Research. DHHS (NIOSH) Publication 87-103.
- NIOSH [1987]. NIOSH Alert: Request for assistance in preventing electrocutions by
undetected feedback electrical energy present in powerlines. Cincinnati, OH: U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Safety Research. DHHS
(NIOSH) Publication 88-104.
- NIOSH [1989]. NIOSH Alert: Request for assistance in preventing electrocutions of
workers using portable metal ladders near overhead powerlines. Cincinnati, OH: U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Safety Research. DHHS
(NIOSH) Publication 89-110.
- NIOSH [1991]. NIOSH Alert: Request for assistance in preventing electrocutions
during work with scaffolds near overhead powerlines. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute
for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Safety Research. DHHS (NIOSH) Publication
91-110.
- NIOSH [1992]. NIOSH Alert: Request for assistance in preventing falls and
electrocutions during tree trimming. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health, Division of Safety Research. DHHS (NIOSH) Publication 92-106.
- NIOSH [1993]. NIOSH Alert: Request for assistance in preventing injuries and deaths
from metal-reinforced hydraulic hoses. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health, Division of Safety Research. DHHS (NIOSH) Publication 93-105.
- Casini VJ [1993]. Occupational Electrocutions: Investigation and Prevention.
Professional Safety, 38(1): 34-39.
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