Fatal electrical injuries at work

Report: NFPA's "Fatal work injuries caused by exposure to electricity in 2020"
Author: Richard Campbell
Issued: May 2022

Report

Fatal work injuries caused by exposure to electricity in 2020

Occupations that routinely involve electrical work are the most obvious populations at risk for electrical injury, but virtually any environment that utilizes electrical equipment or is conducted near electrical installations may involve exposure to hazardous energy. This report draws upon data from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) sponsored by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to provide an overview of fatal electrical injuries at work in 2020.

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Report highlights

• 126 workers died from exposure to electricity in 2020.
• By occupation, workers in construction and extraction occupations (44% of total) accounted for the largest number of deaths, followed by those in installation, maintenance, and repair occupations (20%) and building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (13%).
• Slightly more than three in five (645) fatal injuries from direct exposure to electricity occurred while workers were engaged in constructing, repairing, or cleaning activities.
• One-third (33%) of the fatal injuries occurred at a private resident while another 31 percent took place at an industrial site.
• Almost three in five injuries (56%) were caused by direct exposure to electricity, defined as injuries caused by direct contact with the power source, such as direct contact with a live electrical wire or when the victim is struck by an electrical arc.