Electricity has long been recognized as a serious workplace hazard, exposing employees to electric shock, electrocution, burns, fires and explosions. According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFi), electrical hazards cause more than 300 deaths and 4,000 injuries in the workplace each year, and electrical accidents rank sixth among all causes of work-related deaths in the U.S. Despite the scary statistics, many workers may have a “can’t happen to me” attitude. But the risks are real, as many workers and their families know all too well. Here are just a few real-life stories of workers injured and killed in arc flash and electrocution incidents.
• Jon, a journeyman electrician, was taking data on circuit breakers that he believed to be deenergized. While closing one of the enclosure doors, an arc flash occurred. The arc flash blew the door open, knocking him back against a wall and causing him to lose consciousness in front of the enclosure, which continued to arc. Don, a journeyman electrician, was Jon’s working partner that day. Although not initially injured by the arc flash, Don was burned as he rescued an unconscious Jon from in front of the enclosure as it continued to arc.