The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) uses the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries (SOII) to distill information specifically pertaining to fatal and nonfatal occupational electrical injuries. Each year the ESFI publishes electrical injury information in tabular and graphical form on our website. The most recent data covers the 27 years from 1992-2019 but mainly focuses on 2011-2019 data. Download data and charts.

Fatal Electrical Injuries

  • There were 166 electrical fatalities in 2019, which was a 3.75% increase over 2018 and the highest number of electrical fatalities since 2011.
  • Contact with / exposure to electric current accounted for 3% of all fatalities in 2019, maintaining the same percentage as in 2018.
  • Electrical fatality rates were 0.11 fatalities per 100,000 workers, the rate for all fatalities was 3.6 per 100,000 workers in 2019.
  • The construction industry had the highest rate of fatal electrical injuries (0.7 / 100,000) followed by utility (0.4 / 100,000) in 2019. All industries had 0.1 fatalities per 100,000 workers.
  • In 2019, 8% of all electrical injuries were fatal.
  • The number of electrical fatalities varies between ages:
    • 11% of electrical fatalities occurred in workers aged 20 – 24
    • 30% of electrical fatalities occurred in workers aged 25 – 34
    • 27% of electrical fatalities occurred in workers aged 34 – 44
    • 17% of electrical fatalities occurred in workers aged 45 – 54
    • 13% of electrical fatalities occurred in workers aged 55 – 64
  • “Constructing, Repairing, Cleaning” accounted for the leading worker activity for electrical fatalities at 52%. “Using or Operating Tools, Machinery” accounted for 27% of electrical fatalities.
  • 30% of all electrical fatalities occurred at a private residence. Industrial places and premises accounted for another 30% of fatalities. Public buildings accounted for 13%, street and highway accounted for 11%, and farm for 6%.
  • Occupations involved in electrical fatalities:
    • Construction and Extraction Occupations: 43%
    • Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations: 22%
    • Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations: 17%
    • Transportations and Material Moving Occupations: 7%
    • Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations: 4%
    • Management Occupations: 2%
  • Private industry accounted for 154 (93%) of the electrical fatalities. Government accounted for 12 (7%).

Nonfatal Electrical Injuries

  • There were 1,900 nonfatal electrical injuries involving days away from work. This was a 22% increase over 2018.
  • 0.21% of all nonfatal injuries resulting in days away from work could be attributed to electricity during 2019. In 2018, 0.17% could be attributed to electricity.
  • Age of worker involved in nonfatal electrical injury:
    • 20 – 24 years old: 16%
    • 25 – 34 years old: 25%
    • 35 – 44 years old: 12%
    • 45 – 54 years old: 32%
    • 55 – 64 years old: 14%
    • 65 years and over: 1%
  • Occupation of the worker involved in non-electrical injury:
  • Installation, Maintenance, and Repair: 35%
    • Construction and Extraction: 27%
    • Production: 13%
    • Service: 8%
    • Sales and related: 6%
    • Education, Legal, Community Service, Arts, and Media: 5%
    • Healthcare Practitioners and Technical: 3%
    • Transportation and Material Moving: 3%
  • 57% of fatalities occurred in service-providing industries while 43 occurred in good-producing industries.
  • Days when the nonfatal electrical injury occurred:
    • Sunday: 2%
    • Monday: 12%
    • Tuesday: 32%
    • Wednesday: 22%
    • Thursday: 15%
    • Friday: 12%
    • Saturday: 6%
  • Hours worked when the nonfatal injury occurred:
    • 1 – 2 Hours: 6%
    • 2 – 4 Hours: 9%
    • 4 – 6 Hours: 19%
    • 6 – 8 Hours: 20%
    • 8 – 10 Hours: 12%
    • 10 – 12 Hours: 6%
    • 12 – 16 Hours: 1%
    • Not Reported: 27%
  • The median number of days away from work for nonfatal electrical injuries was 9 in 2019, a 125% increase over 2018.
    • Median days away from work:
      • Indirect Exposure to Electricity, Greater than 220 Volts: 3
      • Indirect Exposure to Electricity, 220 Volts or Less: 17
      • Direct Exposure to Electricity, Greater than 220 Volts: 29
      • Direct Exposure to Electricity, 220 Volts or less: 4
  • The industries with the leading number of nonfatal electrical injuries:
    • Construction: 20%
    • Manufacturing: 16%
    • Leisure and Hospitality: 13%
    • Education and Health Services: 11%
    • Accommodation and Food Services: 10%
  • Electrical shocks accounted for 1,340 of the nonfatal electrical injuries while burns accounted for 470.