Electrical safety risks are prevalent in any industry that has workers who are exposed to over 50 volts of electricity when performing a work task.

With two years of the COVID-19 pandemic impacting how businesses evaluate employee safety and with 2,000 workers treated for arc flash related injuries each year, now is the time for businesses to consider protocols like electrical safety to further protect their workers.

It's important to note that power outages can affect all types of industries and bring operations to a screeching halt, contributing to a loss in productivity, revenue and material. Some electrical failures can even increase the risks of workers facing serious or life-threatening injuries. 

National Safety Apparel (NSA) continues to increase their House of Brands with the launch of their newest line of safety products, AG Safety™. This new electrical safety line features products that protect against arc flash and voltage hazards to complement their existing ArcGuard® safety apparel.

For workers on the factory floor, machinery and high-voltage systems can pose serious safety risks. According to OSHA, electrocutions are one of the “fatal four” — the leading causes of fatalities in the workplace.

In 2018 alone, there were 103,600 recorded incidents in commercial buildings. Electrical malfunctions are a leading cause of these events, and they cost businesses $373,400,000 in 2018.

Electrical wires pose hazards for people working on or around them. Fortunately, there are numerous safety standards in place.

Industrial worksites — like factories, power plants and warehouses — are often dangerous environments for workers. Large equipment and heavy objects, among other threats, pose severe safety risks.

According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), in 2018, nearly one in ten workplace electrical injuries were fatal, and more than half of these occurred in the construction industry.