The Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) has used data to isolate 3 areas of greatest concern; 347 volt systems (working live), unsafe multimeter use, arc fault (working live). 53% of events causing incidents are directly linked to working on energized equipment. Research with Electrical workers has indicated:
they work live to avoid disruption to customers
they don’t take the time to disconnect to reduce on-the-job costs
they believe they can control the risk.
Workers take risks when they don’t know who did electrical work before them, when they think they are in control, when supervisors haven’t considered safety requirements – and when workers haven’t asked about safety requirements.
Workers take risks when they do not think about personal safety and their right to be safe on the job.
