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Between 2011-2023, there was a total of 1,940 workplace fatalities involving electricity, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). During this period, 74% of fatalities occurred in non-electrically related occupations.
In fact, most of the electrical fatalities that occurred in the workplace were from accidental contact with electricity, says Daniel Majano, program director for the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), which collected information on fatal and non-fatal occupational electrical injuries.
Key takeaways:
- Contact with or exposure to electricity continues to be one of the leading causes of workplace fatalities and injuries in the United States.
- 74% of workplace electrical fatalities occurred in non-electrical occupations, while 26% percent of workplace electrical fatalities occurred in electrical occupations.
- 5.6% of all fatalities were caused by contact with electricity.
- Electrical fatalities continue to stay consistent year over year, with a slight downward trend since 2011.
- The construction industry had the highest number of electrical fatalities.
- Occupations with the most electrical fatalities, according to OSHA, are laborers, except construction (142 fatalities); construction laborers (131 fatalities); and truck drivers, heavy (35 fatalities).
- Construction and extraction occupations, installation, maintenance, and repair occupations, and building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations have the highest rate of electrical fatalities.
