Risk perception and decision making in hazard analysis: improving safety for the next generation of electrical workers

Electricity is unique among energy sources in that its use is ubiquitous in everyday life, yet it also has the potential to be instantly fatal when contacted. Due to its familiarity and everyday use, people are often complacent to electrical hazards and underestimate the risks associated with exposure to electricity. Many veterans in the electrical industry came of age in an era when best practices for electrical work had not yet been established, and as a result experienced firsthand the consequences of electrical incidents. Over the past several decades there has been a movement in the industry to improve safe work practices based on these experiences. This has resulted in great improvements to electrical safety, making electrical incidents less common. The challenge faced today is to transfer the knowledge gained from past experience to workers who may not have witnessed serious electrical incidents, and as a result, may fail to recognize the potential for injury associated with electrical work. This paper will explore how perception of risk affects a worker's decision making process to recognize electrical hazards, and assess the likelihood and severity of the associated risks. Several case studies of electrical incidents will be presented to demonstrate flaws in the decision making process that contributed to the incident. Specific examples will be used to illustrate some of the less obvious hazards associated with electrical equipment. Finally, there will be discussion on methods to facilitate knowledge transfer to better train the next generation to recognize hazards and mitigate risks associated with electrical work.