Construction Sees Large Amount of Electrical Deaths

Dec. 7, 2022

Roughly half of the fatal workplace injuries related to electricity exposure in a recent 10-year period occurred in construction, according to a new report from CPWR– The Center for Construction Research and Training.

Using 2011-2020 data from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, researchers identified 1,501 fatal occupational electrical injuries in all industries. Of those, Safety and Health magazine reports 49.1 percent involved construction workers. Additionally, 24.4 percent of nonfatal electrical injuries occurred in construction. CPWR says the industry employs 7 percent of the U.S. workforce.

Overall, fatal injuries were more often a result of direct exposure. Direct exposure is associated with contacting a live wire, while indirect exposure may include operating a crane that touches a power line.

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Source: Safety and Health

About the Author

Frank Raczon

Raczon’s writing career spans nearly 25 years, including magazine publishing and public relations work with some of the industry’s major equipment manufacturers. He has won numerous awards in his career, including nods from the Construction Writers Association, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, and BtoB magazine. He is responsible for the magazine's Buying Files.