Electrocution in the construction industry: a systematic review (full PDF)

This systematic review of electrocutions in the construction industry may interest some.

Not a summary.

NB. Open access licence permits the uploading of the PDF.

Extracts:

· “contact with overhead power lines was the most frequent and fatal, accounting for approximately 39–40% of incidents”

· “direct contact with power sources above 220 V represented about 36% of cases”

· “nearly 50–52% of incidents involved overhead power lines and 29–30% involved stored electricity”

· “although electricians and power line installers experienced the largest number of fatalities following direct contact with energized equipment, non-electrical workers like the roofers, laborers, painters, etc., accounted for more than half of all electrical fatality incidents”

· “Environmental conditions, such as wet, confined places, and working at height, further increased the risk and severity of these occurrences”

· “Although technical failures such as missing ground-fault protection, poor clearance, and inadequate lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures were recurring causes, these often reflected deeper organizational pressures, limited supervision, and weak safety culture”

· “a substantial proportion of electrocutions result from indirect contact, primarily through conductive tools or equipment that interacts with live electrical sources”

· “Factors such as limited supervision and production pressure can cause workers to overlook or bypass safety protocols. These production pressures often stem from deeper structural issues within construction project management.”

· “Tight deadlines, subcontracting schemes, and performance-based pay systems can create incentives that prioritize productivity over safety”

· “Understanding these systemic origins of time pressure is critical, as they reveal that many electrocution risks arise not from individual negligence but from organizational and operational decisions embedded in daily work practices”

· “While many studies identify technical failures as immediate triggers of electrocution, these issues are often symptoms of broader managerial and organizational weaknesses. Limited oversight, unclear safety accountability, and inconsistent communication between contractors frequently cause the persistence of such technical lapses”

· “High-risk trades such as electricians, laborers, roofers, and HVAC technicians consistently emerge as those most affected, underscoring the need for targeted preventive strategies”

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