Why men work live and what you can do to curtail this deadly practice

Abstract

Trades organizations and safety authorities have identified the practice of working live on energized equipment or machinery as a significant contributor to death and disfigurement due to occupational electrical contact by electricians as well as other trade workers. Electrical harm reduction communications programs that may be making a difference in the goal of reducing occupational electrical accidents and death in Ontario are discussed in this paper. Discussion in this report is gender based as there have been no fatalities by women working on or near electrical equipment in Ontario in over a decade. Gaining a deeper understanding of the human and organizational drivers of electrical risks in this complex socio-technological system is vital.