Electical Contractor

The latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data reveals that, in 2001, 27 people involved in electrical construction were killed by falls while performing their jobs. This places falls as the second leading cause of fatalities in our industry.

Electrocution is the No. 1 cause of fatalities in the electrical construction industry. On the surface, this may seem natural. The focus of the work involves electricity. But consider this: electricians are supposed to be highly skilled at handling dangerous electrical energy.

Help employees before it hurts your business Discussion of drug and alcohol policy can yield a number of responses. For the non-drinker or someone who has lost a loved one due to another’s abuse, the topic commands respect.

This year, the well-dressed electrical contractor is turning away from shoes by Armani and hats by Yves St. Laurent. Sharp dressers sport hiking-style work boots, more comfortable dielectric footwear, colorful work gloves and NFPA 70E-compliant headgear.

Although the chance of being visited by an OSHA inspector is about one in 15, (based on 1999 Census estimates of firms with more than 10 employees) it may be time to invest in learning your OHSA ABCs and XYZs.

The humble ladder tops the list of injury agents Ladder safety seems like an odd topic for an ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR article. One would think there are more serious issues to be addressed. Most of us have been using ladders from the time we could climb.

You can never be too careful

A presentation at the PQ World 2002 Conference in October re-enforced the need to continue to make the electrical workplace a safer place to work in. While it would be ideal, it’s not always possible to de-energize electrical systems before working on them.

Worker fatalities exceed 10,000 per year and work-related disabling injuries amount to 1.8 million. Direct and indirect costs associated with these accidents exceed $47 billion. Given these figures, it’s clear to see why first aid is an important part of any safety program.