Continued Emphasis on Electrical Safety

Electrical hazards accounted for 19 deaths in Florida in 2017.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), fatal work related injuries for calendar year 2017 in Florida totaled 299, of which 19 were the result of exposure to electricity. Though this is a decrease in electrical work related fatalities from that of 2016, which experienced 23 fatalities, there has been a general upward trending of electrical related workplace fatalities within Florida since 2011.

This indicates a need for increased awareness of potential electrical hazards in the workplace, requiring the attention and involvement of personnel at all levels of every workplace.

Most electrical incidents result from one or more of the following three factors:

• unsafe equipment or installation,

• unsafe environment, or

• unsafe work practices.

Some ways to prevent these incidents are through the use of insulation, guarding, grounding, electrical protective devices, safe work practices, and probably most importantly; training on recognizing and reporting electrical hazards.

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