[Incidence and prevention of occupational electrical accidents].
BACKGROUND
The Norwegian Directorate for Fire and Electrical Safety receives an annual total of 50 reports of injuries caused by electricity, while the Labour Inspection Authority receives 150 reports. The underreporting is, however, considerable. In this article we estimate the Incidence of occupational electrical accidents and describe the legislation regulating the reporting of injuries from electrical accidents.


METHODS
326 of 343 electricians (95 %) returned a questionnaire on electrical accidents.


CONCLUSIONS
We received reports that indicated an incidence of 7.6 serious accidents per 100 person-years, which equal more than 3000 electrical accidents annually in Norway. Underreporting complicates accident prevention. Doctors should more often report occupational accidents than what is common today.
Goffeng
Lars Ole
LO
Statens arbeidsmilijøinstitutt, Oslo.
Veiersted
Kaj Bo
KB
Moian
Rune
R
Remo
Eirik
E
Solli
Are
A
Erikssen
Jan
J
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004556:Electric Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012042:Registries; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires