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Electrical shock

Get familiar with the dangers of electrical shocks

electrical-shock-outlet.jpg

Electricity is one of the most common causes of fires and thermal burns in the home or on the jobsite.  According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 160 electrical fatalities in 2018, which was an 18% increase from 2017.  All recorded electrical related fatalities were caused by electrical shock, with 54% occurring in the construction industry from 2003 – 2018.  Understanding the dangers of electric shock and electrical safety is paramount to you, and your workers well-being.

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The injury severity from electrical shocks

 

The level of severity of an electrical shock injury depends on the amount of electrical current and time it takes for the current to pass through your body.  According to a NIOSH manual, 1/10 of an ampere of electricity passing through a person’s body for two seconds can be enough to cause death.  Current of less than 10 mA, can cause a person to lose control of their arm and hand muscles.  Defective or misuse of electrical equipment can also be a major contributor to electrical fires, and workers should only use a Class C or multipurpose fire extinguisher for small electrical fires.

9
%
All electrical injuries in 2018 were fatal
71
%
Electrical fatalities in mining, construction, & manufacturing from 2003-2018
31
%
Electrical fatalities happened in workers 25 – 34 years old from 2003-2018

How injuries can happen

Arcflash-safety-warning
  • Coming in direct contact with uncovered energized conductors or circuits
  • Electrical arcs from uncovered energized conductors or circuits through the air to a worker who is grounded
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  • Thermal burns from an electrical arc and burns from particles that catch fire from exposure to an arc flash
  • A wave of pressure released from an arc flash can cause damage to your hearing

How the NEC 2020 code can help you stay safe from electrical shocks

Download our NEC 2020 brochure
residential electrical safety

Every three years, members of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) meet to review, modify and add new National Electrical Code (NEC), or NFPA 70, requirements to enhance electrical safety in the workplace and the home.

The NFPA 70, National Electrical Code, creates the foundation for electrical safety.  The updated 2020 version of this reliable code echos the evolution of the industry, resulting in several updates and four new articles related to the pressing issues of emergency disconnects, ground-fault circuit-interrupters, surge protection, arc energy reduction and more.

Ground fault protection was a significant change in the NEC 2020. Eaton’s ground-fault circuit-protection solutions can help you stay safe from electrical shocks.

Ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection

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GFCI breakers & GFCI receptacles provide superior safety and ensure electric shock protection in areas where electricity may come into contact with water such as kitchen countertops, bathrooms, swimming pools, hot tubs and out­door receptacles and outlets. GFCI breakers immediately break the circuit when electrical current leakage is being detected, reducing the risk of shock and electrocution. GFCI receptacles will render itself inoperable if no GFCI protection is present and a red indicator light will blink notifying the user there is no power and the device must be replaced.

Sources for labor and electrical shock statistics:

https://www.bls.gov/

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/index.htm

https://www.esfi.org/workplace-injury-and-fatality-statistics

Eaton is an intelligent power management company dedicated to improving the quality of life and protecting the environment for people everywhere. We are guided by our commitment to do business right, to operate sustainably and to help our customers manage power ─ today and well into the future. By capitalizing on the global growth trends of electrification and digitalization, we’re accelerating the planet’s transition to renewable energy and helping to solve the world’s most urgent power management challenges.
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