Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution Industry – Industry Hazards | Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Industry Hazards

Many of the specific hazards associated with this industry are similar to those found in other large industries. In addition, workers in other industries have experienced electrocution injuries and fatalities from distribution lines, most notably in the telephone and cable industries (see Other Hazards). The most important hazards associated with the electric power industry are:

Falls

• Worker Deaths by Falls. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 2000-116, (September 2000). Reports that falls from elevations were the fourth leading cause of occupational fatalities from 1980 through 1994. The 8,102 deaths due to falls from elevations accounted for 10% of all fatalities and an average of 540 deaths per year. Between 1982 and 1997, NIOSH investigated 90 falls incidents that resulted in 91 fatalities.
• A Plant Operator at a Coal Fired Power Generation Plant in Texas, Died When He Fell Between the Bypass Dampers Located in the Flu Gas Disulfurization Unit. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Report 98TX23501, (December 28, 1998). A 32-year-old plant operator died while performing regularly scheduled maintenance on bypass dampers in the flu gas disulfurization unit at a power generation plant.
• Electrician Falls to His Death From an Old Wooden Transformer Platform. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Iowa Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Report 981A053. A 47-year-old city electrical supervisor died from injuries suffered when he fell 25 feet from a wooden utility platform. The transformer platform was not well designed for safe maintenance work. It was too wide to enable accessing the transformers from a bucket, yet it was not built for safe access while standing on the platform.
• Lineman Dies from Fall from Utility Pole. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Report 88-39. The belt and safety strap worn by the victim would have been adequate to prevent a fall if used, but these were not utilized due to the difficulty in passing the television cable. A second strap, to provide protection until the climber had the primary strap in place above the lower cable, could have prevented this fall. In this incident the victim was only wearing leather (non-insulated) gloves when he contacted the energized line. If insulated gloves and sleeves had been worn, the victim would not have received the electrical shock which contributed to the fatal fall.
• 33 Year-Old Apprentice Substation Electrician Fatally Injured. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Report 8610. A 33-year-old electrician came into contact with electrical energy while cleaning a substation switch. He died from injuries sustained as a result of falling from the aerial bucket from which he was working. The victim did not have himself belted to the aerial bucket as required. This would have prevented his fall and the injuries sustained in the fall.
• For additional information, see OSHA’s Fall Protection Safety and Health Topics Page.

Confined Spaces

• Worker Deaths in Confined Spaces: A Summary of NIOSH Surveillance and Investigative Findings. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 94-103, (January 1994). From December 1983 through September 1993, the deaths of 480 workers in 423 incidents were investigated. Seventy of these investigations involved confined spaces where 109 persons died. In 25 of the confined-space incidents, there were multiple fatalities, including those deaths which involved persons attempting rescue.
• Preventing Occupational Fatalities in Confined Spaces. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 86-110, (January 1986). The deaths of workers in confined spaces constitute a recurring occupational tragedy; approximately 60% of these fatalities have involved would-be rescuers. NIOSH investigations indicate that workers usually do not recognize that they are working in a confined space and that they may encounter unforeseen hazards. Testing and evaluation of the atmosphere are typically not initiated prior to entry and monitoring is not performed during the confined space work procedures. Rescue is seldom planned and usually consists of spontaneous reaction in an emergency situation.
• For additional information, see OSHA’s Confined Spaces Safety and Health Topics Page.

Sprains, Strains, and Fractures

• Ergonomics. OSHA Safety and Health Topics Page.
• Fall Protection. OSHA Safety and Health Topics Page.

Environmental Stress

• Protecting Workers from Heat Stress. OSHA QuickCard™. Summarizes information to recognize and avoid hazards associated with working in hot environments.
• Occupational Heat Exposure. OSHA Safety and Health Topics Page.

Industry Overview

• Certification of Workplace Products by Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories. OSHA Safety and Health Information Bulletin (SHIB), (February 16, 2010).
• Electric Power Annual. U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Contains statistical data on the U.S. Electric Power industry.
• Inventory of Electric Utility Power Plants in the United States 2000. U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), (March 2002). Provides detailed statistics on existing generating units operated by electric utilities as of December 31, 2000, and certain summary statistics about new generators planned for operation by electric utilities during the next 5 years. [This is the final issue of this report].

The electric power industry is a large, diverse, and fully integrated combination of several sub-industries. The major sub-industries and their SIC and NAICS codes are:

2002 NAICS
1987 SIC
Corresponding Index Entries
2211
4911
Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution
22111
4911
Electric Power Generation
221111
4911
Hydroelectric Power Generation
 
4911
Electric services-hydroelectric power generation
4931
Electric & other services combined-hydroelectric power generation
4939
Combination utilities-hydroelectric power generation
221112
4911
Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation
 
4911
Electric services-electric power generation by fossil fuels
 
4931
Electric & other services combined-electric power generation by fossil fuels
 
4939
Combination utilities-electric power generation by fossil fuels
221113
4911
Nuclear Electric Power Generation
 
4911
Electric services-electric power generation by nuclear fuels
 
4931
Electric & other services combined-electric power generation by nuclear fuels
221119
4911
Other Electric Power Generation
 
4911
Electric services-other electric power generation
 
4931
Electric & other services combined-other power generation
 
4939
Combination utilities-other power generation
22112
4911
Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution
221121
4911
Electric Bulk Power Transmission and Control
 
4911
Electric services-electric power transmission and control
 
4931
Electric & other services combined-electric power transmission
 
4939
Combination utilities-electric power transmission
221122
4911
Electric Power Distribution
 
4911
Electric services-electric power distribution
 
4931
Electric & other services combined-electric power distribution
 
4939
Combination utilities-electric power distribution