If you have a career as an electrician, you’ll face a variety of safety hazards in your work. They could get injured from falling while working in high places or exposure to toxic materials like lead and solvents.
Wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) can prevent these injuries. Other ways to avoid injury include pre-task planning and addressing job-site hazards.
Electrical Shocks
Electric shocks can range from a minor inconvenience to a life-threatening emergency. The severity of the damage depends on the type and strength of the current, the types of tissue touched, and how long the contact lasts. Generally, higher-voltage currents are more dangerous than lower-voltage ones. Domestic electricity typically runs at 110 volts (V), while industrial and power lines often carry high voltages of up to 100,000 V or more.
Those working with electricity are most likely to suffer from the highest-voltage shocks, but anyone can be shocked by faulty electrical equipment. Most people who get shocks don’t require medical treatment, but it is important to see a doctor if you’ve been electrocuted. The doctor will run tests to ensure there is no internal injury, such as heart or brain damage and prescribe pain relief medication.
Some of the most common injuries from electrical shocks include thermal burns, which are caused by burning the skin with a high-voltage electric current; arc flash and flame injuries, which occur when a person is exposed to the heat generated by an electric arc or if their clothes catch fire; and contact and ingestion injuries. Those who experience an electric shock should be moved away from the energy source, and they should follow the DRSABCD first aid method until authorized electrical personnel arrive.
When an electric shock occurs, the victim needs to stay calm. The person should not touch anything metal or water, as these materials conduct electricity. If possible, the person should disconnect power to the area, but they should wait for authorized electrical personnel to assist them.
The best way to avoid these and other kinds of electrical injuries is to work only with a certified electrician and keep electricity out of wet environments, such as baths or kitchens. It’s also a good idea to use extension cords with caution and not plug too many appliances into a single outlet, as this can overload the circuit. Lastly, people should check the safety of overhead power lines before driving, parking, or working near them, and they should always ask for help from authorized utility company personnel before moving any fallen wires.
Burns
The human body conducts electricity, so even minor contact with an electrical source can cause injury. The type of burns a person sustains depends on how much voltage is present, where the electricity came into contact with the body, and whether the contact was brief or prolonged. Electrical burns can be low-voltage (500 volts or less) burns that only damage the outer layers of skin or high-voltage burns that may damage tissue, organs, and bones as it travels through the body.
Electricians work around power sources and wires, making them at risk of suffering electrical burns. These injuries can also occur at home, such as when children put their fingers into outlets, light sockets or step on frayed extension cords.
An electrician who experiences an electrical burn on the job could have severe or life-threatening injuries. He or she may experience pain, swelling, discoloration, blistering, and scarring. These types of injuries can be caused by a variety of factors, including poor maintenance of equipment, failure to follow proper safety protocol, or negligent third parties.
If an electrician is experiencing any of these symptoms, he or she should call 911 immediately. The emergency medical responders can assess the victim’s condition and determine if it is possible for them to safely disconnect from the electrical source. If they are unable to safely disconnect themselves, emergency personnel will need to provide CPR until the electrical current stops flowing through their body.
When someone suffers an electrical burn, it is important to get them to a hospital as soon as possible to see a specialist. Their doctor will examine the extent of their injuries and recommend treatment options. Mild electrical burns can be treated with topical antibiotic ointments and dressings, while more serious burns may require skin grafts or surgery to clean the wounds and prevent infections.
Electrical injuries are extremely dangerous, especially when a patient is not properly trained to use the necessary equipment and protocols. An employer must address the risk of these injuries to their workers through training programs and other safety measures. If an employer fails to address these risks, they can be held liable for any injuries sustained by their employees.
Cuts & Lacerations
Electrical contractors often work with sharp tools and equipment, which can lead to cuts and lacerations. Minor cuts can be cleaned and treated with first aid, but more serious laceration injuries may require sutures or could result in permanent damage, loss of limbs, or even death.
As a rule, wearing gloves when working on electrical projects is best. It’s also wise to remove any jewelry or metal objects from the body before beginning work on a task. This can reduce the risk of injury by making it more difficult for electricity to pass through the body and into other conductors or objects.
Electricians must frequently reach into tight spaces to repair or install electrical components and wires. They must also frequently climb on ladders and scaffolding to access hard-to-reach areas, which can put them at risk of falling. Falling from ladders or scaffolding can cause broken bones, head injuries, and other serious injuries.
Because electricians must work with exposed pipes and other equipment, they are at high risk of exposure to asbestos. Asbestos exposure can cause lung diseases and other health issues. As a result, electricians must regularly take medical tests to see if they have any asbestos-related problems.
While most people associate electricians with the risk of electrocution, they face many other hazards on construction sites. These can include falls, musculoskeletal injuries, and occupational exposure to harmful chemicals. By following the proper safety procedures, electrical workers can minimize the risks of injury and help prevent fatal accidents on the job. By taking care of themselves and staying alert, they can continue earning a living without needing lengthy sick leave or unemployment benefits. Electricians play an important role in the building process, from providing power for tools to wiring and fuses that will power the final structure. But when they are not careful, they can be seriously injured and unable to make ends meet. This is why it’s so vital that every worker understands the hazards they may face on a construction site and takes steps to stay safe.
Knee Strain
Electricians can suffer from injuries in the knee due to the nature of their work. They constantly bend over, move their arms around, and climb up and down ladders. This can cause a strain on the knee ligaments, which can lead to pain, swelling, and reduced mobility. If this isn’t managed, it can lead to a full-blown injury.
Most of the electricians interviewed had experienced some kind of injury while working. The most common injuries were electrical shocks, followed by burns and cuts. Injuries were described in a wide range of ways and had immediate and long-term effects on the participants’ mental health.
Electrical shocks can occur for a number of reasons. Some are simple such as accidentally touching a live wire whilst re-energizing an outlet; however, other accidents can be much more serious such as an arc flash which could potentially be fatal. Over-heated connections trigger arc flashes and can send out tiny particles of metal which fly in all directions like shrapnel. This is why it’s very important for electricians to always check the equipment’s voltage before use and to ensure their PPE is in good condition.
The electricians interviewed reported that they had been very satisfied with the treatment they received in the hospital following their accident. Most had been given ECG examinations, blood tests, and observation for between a few hours to a day or two. They had also been given painkillers and other medication.
Several of the electricians described that they had been asked about their psychological state after the accident. However, many others felt that they were not asked at all. This may be because the subject is sensitive for some or because they believe that the psychological side of an electrical accident has not received the same level of attention as the physical aspects of an injury.
Some of the electricians who had been injured while working in their field described that they had become more cautious and safety oriented at work as a result. They now always checked that the power was off before beginning work, used a voltage tester, and paid more attention to how they were working in order to avoid making mistakes. They also talked about how they had tried to convey their safety concerns to colleagues, apprentices, and other people in the workplace.
Do Electricians Get Hurt a Lot?
While electricians do face a higher risk of injury compared to some other professions due to the nature of their work, the assertion that they ‘get hurt a lot’ is somewhat overstated.
Proper training, regulation adherence, and use of protective gear significantly mitigate these risks. Therefore, it’s crucial to remember that the safety of electricians largely depends on their diligence in following safety protocols.
The industry is continually working on improving safety measures and training, making the profession safer over time. So, while the risks are real, they are manageable with the right precautions and awareness.
All qualified electricians should not only be educated on how to reduce the chance of injury but also how to treat them. One common problem is a burn injury. Knowing prompt treatment steps can help to lessen the severity.