title: Outcome of occupational electrical injuries among French electric company workers: a retrospective report of 311 cases, 1996-2005.
abstract: This study reviewed records of all electrical incidents involving work-related injury to employees Electricité de France (EDF) from 1996 through 2005 and analysed data for 311 incidents. The results are compared with 1231 electrical incidents that occurred during 1970-1979 and 996 incidents during 1980-1989. A total of 311 electrical incidents were observed. The medical consequences of electrical incident remain severe and particularly, the current fatality rate (3.2%) is similar to that recorded in the 1980s (2.7%) and 1970s (3.3%). Among individuals with non-fatal incidents, any change has occurred in the prevalence of permanent functional sequelae (23.6% in the 1970s vs. 27.6% in the 1980s and 32.5% currently). An increase in the incidence of neuropsychiatric sequelae (5.4% in the 1980s vs. 13% currently) has been observed and they are now the second most common type of sequelae after those directly related to burns. Among the neurological sequelae, peripheral nervous system disorders are the most common, as observed in the 1980s. Since the definition of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has changed between the two periods, we can only report that the current prevalence of PTSD is 7.6%. This study emphasises the need for specific management of neurological and psychological impairments after electrical injuries, including especially early recognition and initiation of effective treatment.
authors.affiliation: Medical Studies Department, General Direction of Safety and Health, Electricité de France, France. Electronic address: aleksandra.piotrowski@edf.fr.
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piotrowski
authors.affiliation: Medical Studies Department, General Direction of Safety and Health, Electricité de France, France.
authors.forename: Anne-Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Fillet
authors.affiliation: Prevention and Safety Department, General Direction of Safety and Health, Electricité de France, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.affiliation: Prevention and Safety Department, General Direction of Safety and Health, Electricité de France, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Walkowiak
authors.affiliation: Medical Department of Health Insurance fund, General Direction of Safety and Health, Electricité de France, France.
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.affiliation: Prevention and Safety Department, General Direction of Safety and Health, Electricité de France, France.
authors.forename: Marie-Jean
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Corniere
authors.affiliation: Medical Studies Department, General Direction of Safety and Health, Electricité de France, France.
authors.forename: Pierre-André
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Cabanes
authors.affiliation: Medical Studies Department, General Direction of Safety and Health, Electricité de France, France.
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lambrozo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002058:Burns, Electric / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004556:Electric Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Burns; Electrical injuries; Neuropsychiatric sequelae; Post-traumatic stress disorder