Michael McCann Statistics clearly show that exposure to electricity is still a major cause of deaths among construction workers. Among electricians, the most serious concern is working “live” or near live wires, instead of de-energizing and using lockout/tagout procedures. Among non-electricians, failure to avoid live overhead power lines and an apparent lack of basic electrical safety knowledge are the major concerns. Electrocutions are the fourth leading cause of death among construction workers in the United States. An average of 143 construction workers are killed each year by contact with electricity (based on government data for 12 years, 1992 through 2003). Electrical workers had the most electrocutions per year, followed by construction laborers, carpenters, supervisors of non-electrical workers, and roofers (chart 1). (These numbers do not reflect the risk for each trade, because no corresponding information is available on hours worked for each trade.) 1. Electrocution deaths in construction, by trade, United States, 1992-2003
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CFOI Research File More than half the electrocutions of electrical workers were caused by direct or indirect contact with live electrical equipment and wiring (including light fixtures, circuit breakers, control panels, junction boxes, and transformers) (chart 2). 2. Major causes of electrocutions, electrical workers and other construction workers, United States, 1992-2003
Note: “Other” includes lightning and underground buried power lines Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CFOI Research File For non-electrical workers, the main cause of electrocution was contact with overhead power lines. These deaths were the result of failure to de-energize or protect the power lines and failure to maintain minimum clearance distances from power lines (see chart 3). 3. OSHA minimum clearance distances from overhead power lines
Another cause of electrocutions, especially among non-electrical workers, was contact with machinery, appliances, power tools, portable lights, and defective power/extension cords. In many of the electrocutions, electrical workers and other construction workers touched metal objects that had become energized through contact with live electrical equipment and wiring or with overhead power lines. Thus, 42 (12%) of the electrocutions of electrical workers and 88 (32%) of those of other construction workers that involved electrical wiring and equipment involved these contacts. The most common contacts were with metal ladders, metal pipes, metal wires that were deliberately cut or stripped or were accidentally cut by electric drills or other tools, wires that were energized by contact with live wires, and energized trucks and other vehicles. Electrocutions as a result of metal objects contacting overhead power lines involved 26 electrical workers and 167 of other construction workers. The most common examples involved metal ladders, cranes, aerial lifts, trucks or heavy equipment (such as water well drillers, backhoes, concrete pumpers and dump trucks), wires, metal poles, and metal scaffolds or scaffold parts. Working in cramped areas was a contributing factor in 97 electrocutions (6%), about 8 deaths per year. For electricians, working in attics or above drop ceilings was a risk and for other construction workers, working under houses, in basement crawlspaces, or in attics. Standing in water or having equipment such as trouble lights and extension cords touching water was a contributing factor in at least 51 electrocutions. Low voltage (600 volts and under) was involved in the electrocutions of at least one-third of electrical workers and one-quarter of non-electrical workers. At least 14% of all electrocutions involved 120/220 volts (household current). (The voltage was not known in more than one-quarter of electrocutions.) Following these procedures would prevent most work-related electrocutions. Contractors should:
All other construction workers should:
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