title: Electrical deaths in the US construction: an analysis of fatality investigations.
abstract: Electrocution is among the 'fatal four' in US construction according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Learning from failures is believed to be an effective path to success, with deaths being the most serious system failures. This paper examined the failures in electrical safety by analysing all electrical fatality investigations (N = 132) occurring between 1989 and 2010 from the Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation programme that is completed by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. Results reveal the features of the electrical fatalities in construction and disclose the most common electrical safety challenges on construction sites. This research also suggests the sociotechnical system breakdowns and the less effectiveness of current safety training programmes may significantly contribute to worker's unsafe behaviours and electrical fatality occurrences.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Building Construction , Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University , Blacksburg , VA 24601 , USA.
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Walid
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Thabet
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McCoy
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kleiner
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D060389:Construction Industry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004556:Electric Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: accident prevention; construction; electrical safety; fatality investigations