How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 1,740 severe cases involving electrical parts over the last decade. You should know that 80 percent of these injuries involve the effects of electric current, which can cause internal damage that is not immediately visible.
These incidents frequently result in severe outcomes, including amputations and deep tissue burns. Because electrical injuries often require complex care, your recovery process can be physically demanding.
How these injuries happen
Most injuries involving electrical parts stem from direct exposure to electricity, which accounts for 69 percent of incidents. You may encounter live wires or energized equipment unexpectedly, or suffer from arc flashes that release intense heat. Other causes include being struck by falling objects at 7 percent or exposure to electric arcs at 7 percent.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Direct exposure to electricity | 1,197 |
| 2 | Struck by falling object | 117 |
| 3 | Exposure to electric arc | 116 |
| 4 | Indirect exposure to electricity | 84 |
| 5 | Compressed between running equipment and other object(s) | 42 |
| 6 | Exposure to electricity— unspecified | 27 |
| 7 | Explosion— n.e.c. | 17 |
| 8 | Struck by rolling, sliding, or shifting objects—non-running | 14 |
Where injuries happen most
Construction accounts for 49 percent of all reported electrical injuries, as you frequently interact with temporary power systems and exposed wiring on active job sites. Manufacturing and utility sectors each account for 15 percent of incidents, largely due to the operation and maintenance of heavy electrical machinery.
Real cases like yours
Many reported incidents involve you performing routine maintenance or removing damaged power supplies when you encounter unexpected live current. These stories often reveal a recurring pattern of inadequate safety protocols, such as failing to verify that a circuit is dead before contact or working near energized lines without proper shielding. If any of these scenarios sound like what happened to you, an attorney can help you review the specifics of your incident.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | GA | Construction | "Employees were removing a damaged uninterrupted power supply (UPS) from an audio/visual rack system. The injured employee was pulling from the front. Two other employees were pushing from the rear when they lost their grip. The UPS fell, pinching the injured employee s middle finger against the floor. The employee's fingertip was partially amputated without bone loss." | |
| 2025 | TX | Utilities | "An employee was changing out load break switches while positioned on the ground next to a bucket. The bucket truck became energized by a nearby electrical line and the employee sustained an electrical shock via contact with the bucket truck." | |
| 2025 | FL | Accommodation & Food Services | "An employee was preparing to replace a ceiling light fixture in the kitchen area. He removed two ceiling tiles, reached to touch the back of the housing of the light fixture, and contacted a live electrical wire. The employee sustained an electric shock and second-degree burns on his left hand." | |
| 2025 | GA | Transportation & Warehousing | "On July 29, 2025, an employee was troubleshooting and/or changing an emergency power connector on an aircraft. The employee experienced an electrical shock when an exterior electrical source was activated. The employee was hospitalized for electric shock and burns on their lower right arm." | |
| 2025 | TX | Construction | "A three-person crew was inter-setting a new utility pole. An employee was working to cut the conductor when a 14.4-kV arc flash occurred. The employee sustained burns to the upper-right torso. The employee was wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), including flame-resistant clothing, rubber gloves, and sleeves." | |
| 2025 | KS | Administrative Services | "An employee was operating a vacuum truck, using the controls to raise the bed. As it rose, the bed touched an overhead power line. Electricity passed through the employee, entering through their left hand and exiting through their left toe." | |
| 2025 | GA | Construction | "An employee was replacing a circuit breaker in a panel and sustained electrical burns to his right hand and both forearms." | |
| 2025 | FL | Construction | "On July 21, 2025, during the pouring of a concrete apron intended to connect property to a highway, an employee was using a bull float on an aluminum pole. They lifted the the pole and it made contact with an active power line. The employee sustained an electrical shock, burns to the hands, and electric current-induced amputation of six toes." | |
| 2025 | LA | Construction | "The injured employee was standing in the man basket of an aerial lift as another employee drove the lift across the yard to their destination. The two employees were going to torque nuts that were installed on the 4-hole pads of elevated substation equipment (including various types of transformers, lightning arresters, etc.). At their destination, they were ascending in the man basket when electricity arced to the basket. The injured employee sustained arc flash burns to their face and right arm." | |
| 2025 | OK | Utilities | "Three employees were performing updates on electrical lines. One employee was operating the digger truck. The digger operator swung the boom with an attached auger. The injured employee went to reposition the auger as the boom made contact with the electrified line above. The injured employee was shocked and sustained an exit wound on the outside of their left little toe. The employee was hospitalized." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.
Frequently asked questions
The most frequent injuries involve the effects of electric current at 80 percent, which can range from nerve damage to severe thermal burns. Amputations occur in 8 percent of cases, and fractures account for 5 percent. An attorney can help you document these specific injuries for your claim.
Employers are legally required to maintain safe electrical systems and provide adequate training and protective equipment. If your injury resulted from a failure to follow safety standards or maintain equipment, you may have a valid Workers' Compensation claim. An attorney can help you evaluate whether your employer met their safety obligations.
Workers' Compensation typically covers medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and a portion of your lost wages during your recovery. Because electrical injuries can lead to long-term health complications, it is important to ensure your claim accounts for future medical needs. An attorney can help you verify that your benefits are calculated correctly.
Seek immediate medical attention, as arc flash injuries can cause severe internal and external burns that require specialized care. Once you are stable, report the incident to your supervisor and document the conditions that led to the flash. An attorney can help you preserve evidence and protect your rights.