The Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded more than 18,000 injuries involving electrical shock or electrical burn between 2003 and 2009, and 1,573 electrical fatalities. Other sources suggest these numbers could be even higher, including an oft-cited estimate that each day there are five to 10 arc flash incidents alone in the U.S.
With a high risk of severe injury or fatality, such accidents can result in medical costs, fines and insurance increases that add up to millions of dollars, significant time away from work, and incalculable damage to employee morale and productivity, company reputation, and market position. The first step in protecting your employees and your company from the devastating consequences of electrical accidents is compliance with both mandated standards and codified best practices such as OSHA 1910.269, NFPA 70, NFPA 70E and the IEEE’s National Electric Safety Code (NESC).