Umair Gaines
Electrical injuries are a serious global issue, causing fatalities and injuries in many countries. In the United States, electrical incidents are a leading cause of workplace deaths, with construction, professional services, and transportation sectors experiencing the highest number of electrical fatalities. In other countries, such as Australia, Sweden, Nigeria, and Norway, electrical injuries and deaths also occur, often due to accidental causes or poor regulation adherence. The human body, composed mostly of water, is susceptible to electrical shocks, and even a small amount of electricity can cause significant damage or death. Understanding the dangers of electricity and implementing safety measures are crucial to preventing electrical fatalities.
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What You'll Learn
Electric arcs and lightning strikes
Both electric arcs and lightning strikes pose significant risks to human life. Electric arcs can cause electric arc burns, resulting in skin lesions with a dry, parchment paper-like center surrounded by congestion. These burns can be severe and may require specialized care from a multidisciplinary team, including emergency department providers, radiologists, surgeons, trauma specialists, anesthesiologists, and burn specialists.
Lightning strikes can also lead to direct or indirect injuries and fatalities. Direct strikes, which account for about 5% of lightning injuries, can cause electrical injuries, burns from heat, and mechanical trauma. Side splash, which occurs when lightning jumps through the air to a person nearby, makes up about a third of cases. Contact injuries happen when a person touches an object that has been struck by lightning. Ground current occurs when lightning travels to a person through the ground.
The chances of survival after a lightning strike can be increased by promptly administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and continuing without interruption until the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). It is important to note that people who have been struck by lightning do not retain an electrical charge, contrary to popular belief. However, lightning strikes can result in various immediate and long-term health complications. Common injuries caused by lightning include muscle pains, broken bones, cardiac arrest, confusion, hearing loss, seizures, burns, behavioral changes, and ocular cataracts. Among pregnant women struck by lightning, there is a 50% chance of fetal death. Additionally, of those who survive a lightning strike, about 75% experience ongoing health issues, such as cataracts and hearing loss.
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Electrical fatalities in the workplace
Electrical injuries affect more than 30,000 people a year in the United States alone, resulting in about 1,000 deaths. Contact with electricity is one of the leading causes of fatalities in the workplace. Between 2011 and 2021, there were 1,201 workplace fatalities involving electricity in the US, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a higher figure of 1,653 electrical fatalities over the same period.
Overhead power lines are the leading cause of workplace electrical fatalities, accounting for 40-48.2% of all electrically related deaths. This is followed by unexpected contact with energy, which accounts for 19.3% of all electrical fatalities. Other causes include nearby energized equipment contact (12.7%), and electric arcs, which can occur as a result of poorly installed circuit breakers, switches, or electrical contact points.
The construction industry has the highest number of electrical fatalities, with electricians, construction laborers, roofers, painters, and carpenters experiencing 30% of all electrically related deaths. 33% of these fatalities occurred at private residences, 28% on industrial premises, and 11% on streets or highways. It is worth noting that 98.9% of electrical fatalities during this period were men.
The impact of electrical injuries can be severe and often requires a multidisciplinary team for diagnosis and management. Proper burn care is essential, and patients may require consultations with trauma or critical care specialists, surgical specialists, and orthopedists to avoid any irreversible damage. In addition to physical injuries, patients may also experience long-term neurological, psychological, or physical effects from their electrical injuries.
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Fatalities by country and industry
Electrical injuries affect more than 30,000 people annually in the United States, resulting in about 1,000 deaths. In the US, electrical injuries are the fourth-leading cause of workplace-related traumatic death.
A study by the National Coroners Information System (NCIS) in Australia revealed 321 closed case fatalities (and 39 cases under investigation) involving people who died from electrocution between July 2000 and October 2011. In Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Norway, the number of electric deaths per million inhabitants during 2007-2011 ranged from 0.2 to 0.6. In Nigeria, there were 126 recorded electrocution deaths and 68 serious injuries in 2020 and the first half of 2021.
In the construction industry in the US, there were 849 electrical fatalities between 2011 and 2023, followed by professional and business services (208), trade, transportation, and utilities (182), natural resources and mining (154), and manufacturing (137). Electricians, construction laborers, roofers, painters, and carpenters experienced more than 32% of all electrical fatalities.
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$14.89
Household electrocution
Electrical injuries affect more than 30,000 people annually in the US, with a range of serious consequences. High-voltage electrical injuries can cause severe tissue damage, cardiac arrest, and even death. The human body, composed mostly of water, is a good conductor of electricity, which increases the risk of electric shock and electrocution. Even a small amount of electricity, such as a few thousandths of an amp, can cause significant harm.
In the home, large household appliances account for the largest proportion of electrocution incidents, contributing to about 10% of cases. Other common causes include wiring hazards, such as damaged or exposed wiring, accounting for approximately 20% of electrocutions. Ladders contacting power lines are responsible for 9% of cases, while power tools contribute to another 9%. It is important to be vigilant about potential electrical hazards in the home and to prioritize safety measures to prevent tragic accidents.
The bathroom is a particularly important area to consider when it comes to electrical safety. It is crucial to keep electrical appliances away from water sources such as tubs, showers, and sinks. Receptacles in bathrooms should be equipped with ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) to enhance safety. GFCIs play a vital role in preventing electrocutions by de-energizing a circuit when a ground fault is detected. However, it is concerning that many consumers are unaware of the purpose and importance of GFCIs, underscoring the need for improved safety education.
Understanding the risks associated with electricity and recognizing potential hazards are crucial steps in preventing household electrocutions. By following safety guidelines, such as turning off circuit breakers when working with electricity and keeping electrical appliances away from water, we can significantly reduce the chances of accidents and fatalities.
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Electric shocks from water sources
Electric shock drowning is a term used in the US to describe a cause of death that occurs when swimmers are exposed to electric currents in the water. In some cases, the shock itself is fatal, causing the person to suffocate when their diaphragm is paralyzed. In other cases, the shock incapacitates the swimmer, causing them to drown. Electric shock drownings are most commonly caused by improper electrical connections and faulty wiring on boats, docks, and piers. By law, all connections near water are required to have working ground fault circuit interruption (GFCI) technology, which breaks the electrical circuit if any stray current fails to return to the source connection.
If a GFCI device is missing or faulty, current can leak into the water, electrifying it. This can also occur due to damaged electrical cords and devices, or lightning strikes over or near water. There is no visible warning of electrified water, but swimmers may feel a tingling sensation or symptoms of electrical shock if the current is substantial. If swimmers notice any unusual feelings, everyone should get out of the water immediately and swim away from the suspected current source.
To prevent electric shock drowning, swimmers should maintain a safe distance from electrically active devices and swim at least 100 yards from freshwater marinas. It is also important to ensure that electrical hookups on piers and boats are code-compliant and safe, and that marinas and boats have proper GFCI protection as required by the 2017 National Electrical Code. This code also mandates the posting of electric shock warning signs where electricity is used near water.
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Frequently asked questions
There are over 400 electrocution deaths in the US each year. Electrical incidents are far more likely to be fatal than incidents away from the job.
The construction industry has the highest number of electrical discharge fatalities, followed by professional and business services, trade, transportation, and utilities.
A study by the National Coroners Information System (NCIS) in Australia found 321 closed case fatalities and 39 case fatalities under investigation where a person died from electrocution between July 2000 and October 2011.
Here are some tips to prevent electrical discharge deaths:
- Understand how electricity works.
- Recognize potential electrical hazards.
- Keep electrical appliances away from water.
- Put child-safety covers on electrical outlets.
- Keep electrical cords out of the reach of children.
