The recipient of a bachelor of science degree in technical education from Akron University in Ohio, Jeff Tanski is the owner of Veritas Fire Consulting. Jeff Tanski is a member of NFPA; a non-profit organization focused on eliminating death and injury as well as economic and property loss due to fire and electrical hazards.
A dangerous condition, electrical hazard occurs when a worker experiences shock or sustain an injury due to making electrical contact with energized electrical equipment or a conductor. Aside from causing injury to workers, electrical hazards can affect business by impairing production thereby, resulting in downtime, extra costs, and legal fees.
Every year, about 30,000 electrical shock incidents occur. Faulty equipment, malfunctioning meters, and using equipment near live electricity are some common causes of electrical hazards. Arc burn, blast injury, and thermal burn are some of the common injuries associated with electrical hazards.
To reduce the incidence of electrical hazards, employers should lookout for potential electrical hazards that can occur in the workplace, provide workers with appropriate protective equipment, establish training for workers on preventive measures while working with energized equipment, and create necessary programs and policies.