Topic
Electric Shock
Current passing through the body, including fatal exposure.
Documents
- 202627 Apr
Prevent Fires by Inspecting Cords, Plugs and Welding Leads Before Use
This alert reviews three incidents involving melting welding leads, flames at a cord connection and a tubing bender plug with a loose prong. It warns against applying water to potentially energised conductors and recommends that operators and contractors consider pre-use inspections, suitable electrical protection, hazard assessment and safety briefings.
- 20253 Jul
Near miss: worker suffers electric shock
A vessel crew member received an electric shock during oil clean-up on a crane pedestal after brushing an exposed, energised cable. The worker was unharmed. Failed assurance following yard work left disconnected cables live. Actions address electrical commissioning oversight, preferably assigning work to company electricians rather than third-party contractors.
- 202518 Jun
Lock out/Tag out and unauthorised electrical connections/disconnections
This flash describes missing electrical and mechanical lockouts identified during a vessel engine-room audit, alongside unauthorised electrical disconnections and bypasses. It emphasises suitable lockout devices, documented approval of temporary modifications, restoration checks and clear handovers. Possible links to dynamic positioning trials are presented as assumptions rather than established causes.
- 202523 Jan
Accident to chief engineer on board motor yacht Baton Rouge with loss of 1 life
Investigation of a chief engineer’s fatal electrocution during ventilation damper actuator replacement aboard Baton Rouge in Antigua. It examines work on a live circuit, unused permit arrangements, heat, inadequate monitoring and rescue planning, and conflicting enclosed-space definitions. Management revised its procedures; the report makes no recommendations.
- 202416 Jul
Electric shock after water ingress to switch
A vessel visitor received an electric shock from a steering-room switch left live and unprotected after maintenance. Water entered during engine-room washing following major repairs. The flash highlights completing maintenance before reinstatement, isolating and protecting electrical connections during cleaning, and recording regular competent inspection and testing.
- 202313 Sep
Electrical shock to rig personnel from third party rotating head hydraulic unit
A rig employee reported an electric shock while closing a rotating-head clamp, holding a hydraulic line with one hand and resting the other on the head. Drilling-contractor electricians could not identify the source; third-party equipment-owner electricians subsequently attended to inspect their equipment.
- 20233 Aug
Electrocution incident – make sure electrical equipment is safe!
A vessel cook suffered a mains electric shock while touching a bain-marie and messroom service window simultaneously. A detached earthing wire caused an earth fault in the heater element. The flash describes gaps in galley testing and maintenance, followed by fleetwide electrical testing, planned maintenance additions and revised risk assessment.
- 20221 Nov
Failure to plan properly: electrician sustains serious burns (UK HSE)
An electrician suffered serious burns at a supermarket warehouse when his metal spanner contacted a live busbar, causing an electrical explosion. Generator connection work alongside high-voltage maintenance lacked adequate planning and contractor coordination. The flash highlights failures to stop the circuit supply and appoint a competent person to organise the work.
- 202214 Jul
Don’t ASSUME – verify and check
This safety flash examines three incidents involving an unverified slip-ring isolation, a scaffold plank falling when a roller box opened, and workers exposed to moving machinery. It identifies assumptions and incomplete work-control documentation, emphasising completion of authorisation processes, verification of safeguards and speaking up to stop unsafe work.
- 202220 Jun
High potential: electric shock near miss
An engineer received a minor shock while troubleshooting a faulty 690V motor using a multimeter. The junction-box cover touched one phase during replacement; no injury was confirmed. The flash examines an unassessed change to live electrical work, missing isolation and authorisation, inadequate gloves, and subsequent requirements for crew discussion before work.
- 202131 Aug
UK HSE: Poorly maintained electrical installation caused fatality
An IMCA safety flash describes a fatal electrocution during planned air-compressor maintenance and the subsequent HSE prosecution. Findings included inadequate electrical-contact controls, absent testing and visual inspection since installation, and an unidentified incorrect isolating switch. The account highlights correct isolation points, training, supervision and safe systems of work.
- 202112 Jul
Catering crew unfamiliar with firefighting systems and emergency stops
A galley water leak during vessel fire-pump testing exposed gaps in catering crew familiarity with electrical emergency stops and created potential for electrocution. An audit on another vessel identified similar firefighting awareness gaps. The flash recommends familiarisation, toolbox talks, galley fire drills and accessible, clearly marked emergency stops.
- 20218 Apr
Shipyard worker receives electrical shock
A welder aboard a dry-docked vessel received an electric shock while routing a damaged 380V extension cable through pooled water. The flash identifies exposed cores, absent pre-use inspection, missing residual current protection and wet gloves. Actions address equipment checks, quarantine of defects, circuit protection, emergency isolation and weather-sensitive risk assessment.
- 202117 Mar
Electric shock due to water in electrical equipment
During freshwater supply to a vessel, water escaped from a galley sounding pipe and wetted cooking equipment. A steward received a mains electric shock but was unharmed. The flash identifies unassessed spill risks and delayed drainage, and recommends open drainage, revised risk assessments and communication of equipment maintenance requirements.
- 202025 Aug
Electrical shock from containerised portable office
An employee received a mild electric shock while tidying a containerised office, touching live wiring hidden beneath a desk. The cable remained after equipment removal during storage. The flash identifies missed checks and absent electrical verification, and describes isolation, inspection and formal instructions for container fit-out and modification.
- 202019 Feb
Electric shock resulting in burn
An ROV technician sustained an arm burn from electric shock while bleeding a hydraulic filter in a technical workshop. A cut cable routed through a water drain remained live from a separate transformer despite local lockout. The flash recommends proper cable disconnection, documented modifications, formal change management and supervisor handover.
- 202019 Feb
Two electrical incidents – UK HSE
This flash summarises two HSE prosecutions involving live electricity. Workers suffered serious hand burns after a fixing penetrated a live cable during cable-tray repairs. In a separate container delivery, a crane arm contacted an overhead power line, causing an electric shock to a helper. Both investigations identified shortcomings in assessing the work.
- 20194 Jun
Galley electric shock – Uncontrolled portable electrical equipment
A chief cook received a mild electric shock when a wet cleaning cloth contacted a galley power board. The non-IP-rated board had been paired with an IP-rated plug for personal appliances. Lessons include removing unsuitable equipment, reviewing extension sockets, inspecting for unauthorised appliances and identifying authorised areas for personal-device use.
- 20194 Jun
Use of 220V AC power tools and equipment
This safety flash addresses concerns about portable 220V AC tools during mobilisation and demobilisation, including cable management, damage, ingress protection and unsuitable conditions. It recommends task-based assessment and pre-use inspection, consideration of alternative tools, and conditional, risk-assessed use of 220V equipment when specified alternatives are unavailable.
- 201830 Oct
Electrician received electric shock from a bare cable
An electrician suffered an electric shock when his hand touched an exposed live cable end while installing cable in a vessel cable tray. The wire was incorrectly labelled as spare. The flash describes a cable verification campaign and recommends work-area inspections, anomaly reporting and appropriate permits and isolations.
- 201820 Jul
Crewman received 415v electric shock
A crewman suffered an electric shock while assessing cable routing for an ROV launch and recovery system supply. He touched exposed live wires before the distribution board was isolated. The flash identifies undocumented transformer removal, absent voltage verification and inadequate handover, with lessons on maintenance records and communication.
- 201724 Oct
Potential for fatalities from electrical incidents
This alert reviews three electrical dangerous occurrences notified within less than 90 days, with no injuries or cardiac irregularities reported. It identifies failures in cable identification, isolation confirmation, proving dead, permits, task analysis, procedures and competence, and sets out requirements for safe electrical work.
- 20166 Dec
First aid injury: Electric shock
An ROV supervisor contacted a conductor in the wrong transformer cabinet during fault finding, suffering an electric shock and hand burn. The alternate system received 40V DC despite its breakers being off and potentially held high-voltage capacitive energy. Lessons address isolation, cabinet access, system familiarisation and testing before touch.
- 20154 Nov
Risks associated with electric storage batteries
Following a production-facility battery-room fire without injuries, this alert examines thermal runaway, hydrogen explosions, short-circuit energy release and electric shock. It outlines battery installation and maintenance measures, ventilation, fire protection, load testing and consideration of thermography, alongside replacement planning and emergency response arrangements.
- 20152 Oct
Electrical shock – Failure of isolations and barriers
A crew member received an electrical shock while stripping insulation during replacement motor work. The isolation omitted a space-heater supply in the test position, and a generic motor drawing had been used. The flash stresses equipment-specific drawings in permit-to-work and lockout/tagout procedures when determining isolation.
- 20152 Oct
Electrician fatally electrocuted
An electrician at a land-based oil installation was fatally electrocuted by an arc-blast after climbing onto a pole-mounted substation platform, and also fell from height. The flash identifies deficient risk assessment, permit review, maintenance and weekend safety culture, with corrective measures addressing equipment, supervision, lone working and documentation.
- 2015Oct
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
Technical and legal guidance accompanies the Electricity at Work Regulations, explaining duties and precautions across operational voltages. It addresses electrical shock, arcing and explosion hazards, equipment suitability, maintenance and competence. Detailed discussion distinguishes switching off from isolation, explains proving dead and considers justification and precautions for live work.
- 2015Jun
Electrical test equipment for use on low voltage electrical systems
Guidance on selecting and using electrical test equipment for low-voltage systems, addressing shock and arc-burn hazards. It covers probe insulation, fused leads, measurement categories, voltage detectors and multimeter settings, alongside proving dead, checking detector function, risk assessment and equipment examination. Dead testing is preferred wherever possible.
- 201520 Mar
Electric shock incident
An electrician received a 220V AC shock while working on a 24V remote input/output module in joystick electrical equipment, sustaining minor left-hand burns. The flash describes the current path through an anti-static earth strap, inadequate personal risk assessment and the need to verify isolation using a voltage tester and compatible proving unit.
- 201423 Sep
Safety Alert 314 - Operator Electrocuted Trying to Charge a Battery
An operator on a Gulf of Mexico offshore drilling rig was fatally electrocuted while attempting to charge a battery. A damaged extension cord energised the charger’s metal case. The alert discusses deficient maintenance, training and communication, and recommends restricted extension-cord use, ground-fault protection, regular inspection and job safety analysis.
- 20148 Sep
440V electrical shock incident
A technician received a 440V electric shock while investigating an ROV power distribution unit aboard a vessel, without harm or medical follow-up. The flash identifies unrecognised dual supplies, missing labelling and cover, inadequate familiarisation, and deficient work authorisation and risk assessment. Lessons address supervision, work control and equipment acceptance.
- 2013Sep
Maintaining portable electrical equipment
Guidance on maintaining Class I and Class II portable electrical equipment through user checks, formal visual inspections and combined inspection and testing. It explains competence requirements, risk-based maintenance intervals, fault withdrawal, cable repair and replacement, and legal duties, distinguishing suggested initial frequencies from mandatory requirements.
- 20139 Jul
Electrical safety - inflatable blower fans
This HSE alert concerns imported inflatable blower fans whose electrical connections can admit water onto live contacts, creating a potentially lethal 230 V shock risk. It advises competent examination, stopping use where standards are not met, and prompt modifications providing effective weather protection.
- 201220 Oct
Hidden Welding Lead Results in Minor Electrical Shock
An alert describes an electrical shock during scaffold assembly inside a boiler, with welding and blasting taking place concurrently. A builder’s hammer contacted a concealed welding cable. The scaffold post contacted exposed wire, allowing an electrical arc to reach a brace held by another builder, who received an electrical jolt.
- 20124 Apr
Risks associated with 240V electric hand tools/equipment
This alert examines electric shock risks associated with increased use of portable 240V tools and temporary lighting. It compares notification totals across two periods, favours air, battery or transformer-powered alternatives, and explains limitations of residual current devices, including the need to test their trip threshold and response time.
- 201127 Jul
Electrician received electric shock
A vessel electrician received an electric shock while investigating a faulty running machine supplied through a 220v/110v transformer. A cable with two male connections exposed live pins during disconnection. No injuries were identified. The flash highlights isolation before testing, equipment inspection and risk assessment before installation and use.
- 20108 Apr
Crewman received 440V electric shock
An electrician received a 440V shock while reconnecting power to temporary living quarters during refit work at a repair yard. The supply had not been isolated, and the cable had a live male end. The company changed socket arrangements and reinforced lockout and tagout procedures.
- 2009Oct
Laptop computer charging trolleys
This safety alert addresses electric shock risks from stored charge on laptop charging trolley plug pins and damage to trailing cables. It explains conformity requirements and representative product testing, with conditional precautions for adult-only use or possible pupil access, including switched sockets, alternative connectors, cable storage and visual checks.
- 20092 Jun
Electric shock near-miss
An ROV technician received an electric shock while rerouting a tether, without injury. Energising the tether management system produced induced voltage in isolated conductors, while two earthing clips had become dislodged. The flash examines insecure earthing connections and recommends design improvements, high-voltage training and warning signage.
- 20092 Jun
Fatal electrocution
A rig subcontractor suffered fatal electrical shock during welding. A modified lamp with a damaged cord was identified as a potential shock source. The flash examines absent ground-fault protection, ineffective supervision, safety discussions and permits, and inadequate job safety analysis, with lessons on equipment use and change management.
- 200925 Apr
Damaged Electric Cord Results in Welder Electrocution
An alert describes a welder’s fatal electrocution in a semi-submersible’s bilge pump room. A colleague found him in contact with a floodlight and disconnected the electrical supplies. The 220 V light had been deemed unsuitable but remained in the work area, despite completion of a permit and job safety analysis.
- 20089 Oct
Risk of electrocution during routine work
A technician aboard a dive support vessel received a slight electric shock while dismantling a plug to reroute a live 440 V three-phase winch cable through a sea-fastening mousehole. No injuries were reported. The investigation identified missing work permits, isolation, risk assessment and toolbox discussion, alongside inadequate induction and supervision.
- 20033 Jul
Attempted service to microwave results in fatal electrocution
An experienced electrician died while attempting to service a microwave with the power on, despite prominent warnings. Current passed through his body to ground via an adjacent ice-making machine. The company subsequently prohibited on-site repairs of domestic equipment containing high-voltage components and directed repair through authorised vendors.
- 20037 Jun
Attempted Service to Microwave Results in a Fatal Electrocution
An experienced electrician died while attempting to service a microwave despite warnings and a prominent high-voltage label. He applied a tester across disconnected leads with the power on. The alert reports that current passed through his body to ground via a neighbouring ice-making machine, with burn marks confirming the path.
- 20037 Apr
Working on Operating Equipment Results in Hand Injury
A welder investigating governor-control problems on a portable welding machine received a 12-volt shock while moving electrical wiring beneath a lifted shroud. His withdrawal reaction brought his left ring finger into the radiator cooling fan, causing a cut and a hairline fracture. He returned to work after X-rays and bandaging.
- 200116 Oct
Overhead Power-Line Contact
A D6C side-boom loading nine pipe lengths onto a crew cab deck was involved in contact with an energised 25,000-volt overhead line. Two labourers suffered electrical shock and were assessed at hospital before release. Work stopped, and the electricity company, operator and contractor management were notified.
- 20002 Dec
Dangerous transformers
A vessel operating in the Gulf of Mexico reported transformers of unknown origin onboard. The units lacked earthing and double insulation and had metal casings. Their plug and socket arrangement could produce 440 V from a 220 V supply connected to the 110 V socket, with live sockets presenting an electrocution risk.
- 199916 Nov
Safety Alert 183 - Electrical Shock Hazard
MMS inspections identified incorrectly wired portable electrical steam pressure-washing units. The alert describes shock risks in three-phase, 440-volt units lacking a separate external earth connection. It advises reviewing installation and manufacturer operating procedures, and considering equipment location because the units may be unsuitable ignition sources in classified areas.
- 19996 Jul
Third Party Electrocution
An alert describes a fatal electrocution on an offshore rig involving third-party equipment. A 480-volt, 63-amp supply cable had a four-prong male connector, while the portable hydraulic power unit had a female receptacle. An employee touched the live cable end during disconnection before power was shut off.
- 199412 May
Safety Alert 12 - Accidents
This notice describes maintenance accidents involving a flare condensate knockout drum, crane transfer of a sandblast pot and electrical switching gear. Outcomes included explosion burns, overboard injuries and fatal electrocution. Incomplete adherence to established procedures contributed significantly; recommendations address procedure review, crew reinforcement and supervisory checks before critical operations.
- Undated
Electrical Shock During Water Maker Level Sensor Cleaning
An investigation examines an electrical shock sustained while a contractor cleaned water-maker level sensors. The report identifies an electrical malfunction that prevented a breaker from tripping and energised tank water, alongside failure to isolate power. It discusses lockout procedures, manufacturer switch instructions and subsequent employee communications.
- Undated
Electric Shock While Reattaching Megger Lead During Subsea Cable Testing
An investigation describes a cable technician receiving an electric shock while reattaching a Megger test lead during testing of newly laid subsea cable. Findings identify missing voltage gloves, an unavailable on-site procedure and no safe work permit. Recommendations address JSA compliance, contractor safety meetings and permits for non-routine operations.
- Undated
Extension Cords: 5 Things to Know
Five precautions address extension-cord selection, grounding, service ratings, strain relief and ongoing inspection. The sheet explains moisture-related current leakage and conductor damage, recommends watertight or sealable connectors, and suggests considering a portable GFCI. Damaged, modified or inadequately rated cords must be withdrawn immediately.
- Undated
Roll Up! Electrical Safety in Construction
This construction toolbox talk addresses electrical hazards affecting electricians and other workers. It outlines qualified-worker requirements, feasible de-energisation, lockout/tagout and voltage checks. Guidance also covers insulated tools, protective equipment, GFCI testing, cord inspection and selection, avoiding overloads and wet conditions, and maintaining clearance from overhead power lines.