FACTS

Electrical injuries from power line accidents remain to be a dangerous risk across various industries. Without proper equipment or safety procedures, workers are at risk for electrical shock, severe burns, or even death.

Power line accidents can occur due to various circumstances such as the need to observe multiple targets at the same site, reduced visibility due to weather or environmental landscape, or worker complacency. These accidents remain a serious risk and precautions can and should be taken to avoid them.

Power line accidents can occur due to various circumstances such as the need to observe multiple targets at the same site, reduced visibility due to weather or environmental landscape, or worker complacency. However, these accidents remain a serious risk and precautions can and should be taken to avoid them.

Electrical injuries can be caused by a wide range of voltages, but the risk of injury is generally greater with higher voltages and is dependent upon individual circumstances.

A voltage as low as 50 volts applied between two parts of the human body causes a current to flow that can block the electrical signals between the brain and the muscles. This may have a number of effects including:

• Stopping the heart beating properly
• Preventing the person from breathing
• Causing muscle spasms

STATS

• Overhead power lines cause 40% of all electrically related fatalities, in the workplace.
• Fatalities: According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), an average of 160 people in the United States are killed each year as a result of contact with overhead power lines.
• Injuries: In addition to fatalities, there are also many injuries associated with overhead power line accidents. The ESFI estimates that there are around 1,500 non-fatal electrical injuries each year in the United States.
• Injuries from overhead power lines can result in significant medical expenses and lost wages. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) estimates that the average cost of a non-fatal electrical injury is $80,000.
• Overhead power line accidents are the leading cause of occupational electrical fatalities in the United States, accounting for approximately 35% of all electrical fatalities in the workplace.