title: Electrical injury in relation to voltage, "no-let-go" phenomenon, symptoms and perceived safety culture: a survey of Swedish male electricians.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Professional electricians are highly subjected to electrical injuries. Previous studies describing symptoms after electrical injury have not included people with less severe initial injuries. The purpose of the present study was to describe symptoms at different time points after electrical injury, the impact of "no-let-go" phenomenon and different electrical potential [high voltage (HV) vs. low voltage (LV)], and the safety culture at the workplace.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective survey was conducted with 523 Swedish electricians. Two questionnaires were issued: the first to identify electricians who had experienced electrical injury and the second to gain information about symptoms and safety culture. Self-reported symptoms were described at different time points following injury. Symptoms for HV and LV accidents were compared. Occurrence or nonoccurrence of "no-let-go" phenomenon was analysed using two-tailed Chi-2. Safety culture was assessed with a validated questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nearly all reported having symptoms directly after the injury, mainly paraesthesia and pain. For the first weeks after injury, pain and muscle weakness dominated. The most frequently occurring symptoms at follow-up were pain, muscle weakness and loss of sensation. HV injuries and "no-let go" phenomenon were associated with more sustained symptoms. Deficiencies in the reporting routines were present, as well as shortage of preventive measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that symptoms are reported also long time after an electrical injury and that special attention should be paid to HV injuries and "no-let go" accidents. The workplace routines to reduce the number of work-related electrical injuries for Swedish electricians can be improved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, SE 701 82, Örebro, Sweden. lisa.radman@regionorebrolan.se.|Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, SE 701 82, Örebro, Sweden. lisa.radman@regionorebrolan.se.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rådman
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, SE 701 82, Örebro, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ylva
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nilsagård
authors.affiliation: Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Scania University Hospital, SE 221 85, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jakobsson
authors.affiliation: Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology, Department of Design Sciences, Faculty of Engineering, Lund University, SE 221 00, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Åsa
authors.initials: Å
authors.lastname: Ek
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, SE 701 82, Örebro, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lars-Gunnar
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Gunnarsson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002058:Burns, Electric / Q000209:etiology; D004556:Electric Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004560:Electricity / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008283:Maintenance; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000209:etiology; D016272:Occupational Health; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015279:Organizational Culture; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010292:Paresthesia / Q000209:etiology; D010465:Perception; D010829:Physiological Phenomena; D011210:Power Plants; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017751:Safety Management; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Electrical injury; High-voltage injury; Low-voltage injury; Neurological symptoms; Pain; Safety management