this was such an informative article Mr. Holt. thanks for giving us a chance to be so informed. of the people that read this article i believe some lives will be saved. GREAT JOB

This is clearly an issue in our industry. As usual, a wealth of information Mike..thanks a bunch.

To anyone out there in the field, please be careful and think safety no matter what job you're working on or the time constraints!

very important information but it is a bit out of date. Is there a report that would show what has happened from 1995 to 2005 to show how it has changed in our industry.

Why when we see data like this is it always so outdated? I would like to see data for the last decade as safety has certainly improved.

How many electricans ,get shocked and do not tell there company? Is ppe being used? or is training involved

I get shocked almost weekly I always tell my employees about it. But why is our shock and electrocution data so old.

I have not said much in the past, I am one to watch and learn. October of 2007 I was in a accident, working in a transformer at a industrial plant replacing medium voltage load elbows. The utility company had the system grounded at the sub-station. For some reason after they brought the system up they forgot to ground it once again. It was about a mile away from us and I did not check it like I usually do. The utility company was working on a generator and tripped the automatic transfer switch while we were repairing the terminations. I was holding the wire when the system energized. It was a 25,000 volt system. I was blown about 30 feet out of the transformer and suffered high 2nd degree burns on my arms. How I am still alive is by the grace of GOD. This has been 7 months ago, I am just starting to think again. This proves that no mater how careful and what safety plan is in place, people take short cuts all the time. This was nothing but human error....the first time that I did not check personally that the system was grounded this happens.......not much else to say.....

I am wondering whether welders can experience transient electrical shocks from arc welding where the connecting cable is a long ways away, i.e. at the bottom of a steel structure, or when their clothing is soaked with perspiration.

And is there any way of measuring such shocks? i.e. Holter device?