Electrical accidents with injuries or death during electrical and non-electrical work activities in Italy

By analyzing electrical accidents in the database INFOR.MO. of INAIL, containing fatal accidents at work, it is possible to note that such accidents can be divided into two sets: those involving contact with overhead power lines and the remaining type of electrical accidents. Workers involved in contact with overhead power lines are usually non-experts, which are carrying out a non electrical work near those lines. Whereas workers involved in the remaining type of accidents are mainly expert workers doing some kind of electrical work on a part of the electrical system, a substation or an electrical panel. In both cases procedures and appropriate safety distances, that workers have to follow, are identified by laws and regulations, in the event of electrical or non-electrical work activities on or near an electrical system or a power line. From the analysis it is evident that a certain precaution can be adopted to avoid casualties: the application of foreseen technical procedures should not be underestimated, formation and training of workers, compliance with the time intervals for power disconnection, operations performed carefully and a high level of attention.