In the past two decades, more than half of construction fatalities have been caused by electrical incidents, according to the U.S. Dept. of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. In light of troubling statistics on electricity-related injuries and fatalities, the National Academy of Construction and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers are investigating how best to prevent future incidents.
Calling electricity a “silent killer,” Deborah Grubbe, chair of the NAC safety committee, tells ENR that BLS data show that the percentage of non-fatal injuries caused by electrical shock or burn—0.16%—is very small compared to other injury types, but that belies the issue. BLS data show that electricity-related injuries are the second leading cause of fatalities in construction and the second most costly in terms of workers’-compensation claims.