Electrical Safety: Practical Steps for Every Employer 

Most employers assume electrical hazards are someone else’s concern – a problem for electricians, power line employees, and trained tradespeople. The data tells a different story. According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), 74% of workplace electrical fatalities occur in non-electrical occupations. That means the employees most at risk are often the ones who’ve never received a minute of electrical safety training. 

Knowing where your exposure lies is the first step toward addressing it. 

ESFI’s Jennifer LeFevre, Executive Director, and Daniel Majano, Program Director, joined us to break down where electrical hazards show up in general industry and what employers can do to prevent them. ESFI is a nonprofit dedicated to reducing electrical injuries and fatalities through free public education and outreach.

A closer look at electrical fatalities 

ESFI analyzed every workplace electrical fatality reported to OSHA between 2011 and 2024. They read through investigation narratives to understand not just who was hurt, but what they were doing when it happened. The findings make the case for why general industry employers need to pay attention.

Tree trimmers, roofers, truck drivers, painters, carpenters, and construction laborers account for a large share of fatalities – not electricians. These employees are in roles that rarely include formal electrical safety training, yet their work routinely puts them in contact with electrical hazards. 

The 7 leading causes of workplace electrical fatalities 

In its analysis, ESFI identified seven common causes. 

1. Overhead power line contact: The single largest category, accounting for approximately 49% of fatalities. This includes direct contact as well as electricity arcing from a line to a nearby tool, vehicle, or piece of equipment. 

2. Unexpected contact with energized equipment: Employees didn’t realize something near them was live. 

3. Confined space contact: Maintenance employees, HVAC technicians, and others working in tight spaces where an elbow, foot, or tool brushes against energized equipment. 

4. Unauthorized work on energized parts: Sometimes an employee replaces an outlet, thinking it’s safe – not realizing that even 110 volts can be deadly. 

5. Ground faults: Electricity and water coming into contact, often outdoors. 

6. Damaged equipment: Employees using tools or cords they didn’t realize were compromised. 

7. Arc flash and other causes 

“Most of the electrical fatalities that occurred in the workplace were from accidental contact with electricity,” Majano said. “It is important to always be aware of your surroundings when at a job site.” 

These causes aren’t unique to electrical trades. They apply across a wide range of industries. 

Everyday hazards hiding in plain sight 

General office and warehouse environments carry risks that employers often haven’t considered. 

Extension cords and outlets 

Extension cords are one of the most misused pieces of equipment in any workplace. They’re a factor in roughly 3,300 home electrical fires annually – a risk that’s also widespread in commercial settings. 

These cords are designed for temporary use, but in many businesses, they become semi-permanent fixtures. Make sure your employees know: 

• Extension cords should never be daisy-chained. Each cord is rated for a specific length and wattage, and connecting them in series can exceed both. 

• Outdoor work requires outdoor-rated extension cords. Using indoor cords outside creates fire and shock hazards. 

• Any cord used outdoors should be plugged into a GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlet. If one isn’t available, portable GFCI adapters are a low-cost solution. 

If your team is relying on extension cords to reach areas without enough outlets, that’s a sign it’s time to bring in a licensed electrician to assess whether new circuits are needed. 

Space heaters 

Space heaters paired with extension cords, left plugged in at the end of the day, or knocked over in a busy workspace are a common and underappreciated risk. “These are things that people think about at home,” LeFevre noted, “but they really need to be careful about the types of space heaters, leaving them plugged in – and then some of the other electrical elements like using an adapter or extension cords.” 

Lithium-ion batteries 

Power tools, laptops, earbuds – the list of devices running on lithium-ion batteries keeps growing. LeFevre emphasized that sourcing matters: Batteries and chargers should come from reputable retailers or directly from the manufacturer. Equally important is stopping the charge once it’s complete. Leaving tools on a charging bank indefinitely isn’t a safe storage method. 

Look for certification symbols – UL, CSA, ETL – on chargers and equipment. They indicate the product has been tested by a third-party lab and is safe when used as intended. 

💡 Pro tip: Lithium-ion batteries can’t go in standard recycling bins or trash. Many retailers and local municipalities offer drop-off programs. Build this into your equipment disposal process. 

Know when to stop and call someone qualified 

One of the more common patterns in ESFI’s fatality data is an employee being asked to handle something outside their training. A breaker keeps tripping. An outlet stops working. It seems like a quick fix – so someone tackles it. 

“If that employee doesn’t have the tools, or the training in the right standard for how to do that work – they shouldn’t be doing that work,” Majano said. The consequences can extend beyond the individual: A poorly handled electrical repair can start a fire that puts an entire building at risk. 

The principle is straightforward: If a task involves electricity, it should be handled by someone qualified. That might mean a licensed electrician, an equipment manufacturer’s service team, or a vendor who offers maintenance contracts. Most of the savings from using a generalist disappear the moment an incident occurs. 

Empower employees to speak up when something is outside their wheelhouse. A stop work authority program gives employees the formal standing to pause a task – without fear of pushback – when something doesn’t feel right. If an employee looks at a task and doesn’t have the right training or tools, they should be able to say so. 

📍 Read next: Stop Work Authority Program: Empowering Employees to End Unsafe Situations > 

Test before you touch 

One practical habit that applies in almost any situation: Test before you touch. Before doing any work around electrical equipment – even something as routine as replacing an outlet – use a voltage meter or voltage detector to confirm power is off. Don’t assume the breaker was flipped or that the equipment is de-energized. 

When it comes to PPE, consider electrical gloves and other protective gear as the last line of defense, not the first. They’re there to provide a final layer of protection after every other safeguard has been applied. “Don’t rely on that to keep you safe,” Majano said. “You should do everything else in the hierarchy of controls to try to eliminate the hazard first.” 

📍 Read next: The Hierarchy of Hazard Controls: Understanding the Roadmap to Workplace Safety > 

Building a culture that catches problems early 

Employers who handle electrical safety well treat near-misses as information, not noise. An outlet that sparks every time it’s used. A breaker that trips repeatedly. These events often get shrugged off because no one got hurt, but they’re typically precursors to incidents that do cause harm. Encourage employees to report these close calls and make clear that reporting isn’t about blame. It’s about catching problems before they escalate. 

“It’s easy to say, ‘oh, I’ll just fix it,’” LeFevre noted. “But that should be something you’re leaning on qualified people for instead.” 

A few other habits worth building in: 

• Post clear signage around energized areas or equipment, especially anywhere that visitors, contractors, or new employees might access. 

• Check certifications on equipment. Before purchasing tools or equipment, verify that they carry a nationally recognized testing mark. 

• Conduct regular visual inspections. Damaged cords, scorch marks, and warm outlets are all warning signs that shouldn’t be ignored. 

• Review job descriptions. Do any of your employees’ responsibilities involve electrical equipment? If so, confirm they’re qualified – or adjust accordingly. 

Building a strong safety culture is what makes these habits stick. A checklist matters a lot less if employees don’t feel comfortable raising concerns or if safety is treated as secondary to getting the job done. 

For a more structured starting point, ESFI recommends reviewing NFPA 70E (the standard for electrical safety in the workplace) and NFPA 70B (the standard for electrical equipment maintenance). ESFI also offers free infographics, video shorts, and other resources you can share directly with your team. 

Most electrical incidents are preventable. Awareness is where it starts – knowing that the risk exists, what it looks like, and how to build a safety program that addresses it before something goes wrong. 

Already an MEM policyholder? Your safety and risk consultants can walk through your programs and help close gaps – at no additional cost. Get in touch with our Safety and Risk Services team.