No matter where you work, it’s likely that you could come into contact with electricity. From normal lighting in an office to electrical hazards on a dock, you could be around electricity almost anywhere.
There is great importance in teaching workers how to handle electricity safely, especially when they work around water. Whether it is raining or you’re working on a project at a local pond, you want to know that your actions won’t lead to electrocution.
Electricity is a hidden danger
Something to keep in mind is that electricity is somewhat of a hidden danger. You can’t see electricity. You can’t taste it, either. On top of that, you won’t be able to smell an electrical hazard unless it has already started smoking.
As a result, it is possible for someone to enter a watery area or touch something that is currently holding a charge. When that electricity reaches the worker, it could lead to severe burns and other injuries.
Electrical hazards are still a major cause for concern
According to statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 160 fatal electrical injuries related to people’s work in 2018. That was a significant increase over the previous year at a rate of around 17.7%.
Why are electrical injuries happening more often? It could come down to just not talking about the basic rules of working with electricity.
How can you be safe when working with electricity?
Whenever you work with electricity, you should have some basic safety training and be informed about the potential risks. For example, your employer may break down the kinds of safety gear you need for a certain project, and you should always wear that personal protective equipment while you’re on the job.
You should also learn about the signage and markings that tell you if electricity is present and how to handle live electricity if you come into close proximity to it. Turning off all electricity in an area where you’re working can also be beneficial if the job allows for that, so you can minimize the risk of live wires being present.
If you do end up getting electrocuted at work, call 911 and seek medical attention. Then, you may want to look into making a workers’ compensation claim.