Roles & Responsibilities

It is generally recognized that all employees deserve a safe workplace, and federal, state, and local laws across the United States help to ensure this. Employers are responsible for worker safety, regardless of the size, type, or location of the organization. According to OSHA, the majority of electrical accidents result from at least one of the following factors:

• Unsafe equipment or installation
• Hazardous environment
• Dangerous work practices

Employers are responsible for ensuring that none of these factors are present in the workplace.

Regulations and employer attention to ensuring a safe workplace are ultimately useless, however, if employees do not choose to practice safe work habits as they work. In fact, electrical accidents are largely preventable through safe work practices. Examples of these practices include the following:

• De-energizing electrical equipment before inspection or repair
• Keeping electrical tools properly maintained
• Exercising caution when working near energized lines
• Using appropriate protective equipment

Each employee has the responsibility of acknowledging that accidents can and do happen. Doing so helps to protect coworkers, too, because electrical shock can affect those working around the initial victim and those who attempt to rescue the victim.

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