ELECTRICAL INJURIES –
STILL HAPPENING AFTER ALL THESE YEARS
The electrical hazards that continue to injure and kill workers tend to be
simple, obvious and well-known. Why do these incidents keep happening?
The workers hadn’t de-energized the
electrical panels or circuits on which they
were working and suffered flash burns from
electrocution. Two of the electricians were
journeymen, the third, an apprentice working
under the supervision of a journeyman.
Investigating officers determined:
Perhaps it’s not the hazard workers need to
be aware of, but the pattern of behaviours
leading to deadly contact. Electricity
commands respect. It flows through
conductors along the path of least resistance,
seeking ground. The human body, consisting
of about 70% water, makes an excellent
conductor. When a person’s body comes into
contact with an energized conductor – a
live wire – it makes a very good path to the
ground for a current.
• The apprentice was inexperienced and
there was inadequate supervision by the
journeyman.
In New Brunswick, a serious electrical
accident resulted in severe burns to the hands
and faces of the electricians involved. Apart
from the injuries and suffering sustained by
the workers, fire and downtime losses were
substantial.
1 800 222-9775
• There was a lack of knowledge or careless
use of testing equipment.
• The electricians were not wearing the
proper safety gear.
• There were violations or absence of safe
lock-out procedures and violations of the
Canadian Electrical Code rules for working
on energized circuits.
WorkSafeNB health and safety officers
recommend:
1. No repairs or alterations should be carried out
on any live equipment except where complete
disconnection is not practicable.
General Regulation 91-191, Subsection 287.3(1);
Canadian Electrical Code, Part 1-Section 2-304 1)
2. No one should work on any live equipment unless
protected by approved protective equipment or
insulating devices such as tongs, rubber gloves,
boots, mats, etc., which must always be maintained
in proper condition.
General Regulation 91-191, Subsection 287.4(1);
Canadian Electrical Code, Part 1-Section 2-306
3. Adequate precautions, such as locks on circuit
breakers or switches, warning notices, sentries, or
other equally effective means, must be taken to
prevent electrical equipment from being electrically
charged when work is being done.
General Regulation 91-191, Subsection 287.3(1);
Canadian Electrical Code, Part 1-Section 2-304 3)
www.worksafenb.ca
Revised June 2011
Normally, electricity is extremely safe.
Considering how everyone is almost
constantly surrounded by electrical wires and
equipment, there are relatively few accidents.
However, that’s of little comfort to the
hundreds of workers injured or killed each
year as a result of electrical incidents.