17 - Accidental deaths due to electric current

Summary

This is a sub-category of the broader category ‘external’ causes of death (Map 5). Approximately one person a week, usually a man, dies from this cause of death.

Very few females die from this cause – almost nine out of ten deaths are of males. There is no apparent geographical pattern to deaths from this cause, but perhaps a slight preponderance of higher rates in the south east, possibly reflecting more construction work there.

This category covers accidental deaths from electrocutions from domestic appliances such as light fittings, water heaters, washing machines and extension cords. The reasons for the equipment causing death include faulty equipment and damaged or exposed wiring; sometimes the accident will result from someone having tampered with equipment contrary to safety advice. Power tools, such as electric drills, and gardening equipment, such as lawnmowers and hedge-trimmers, are also common causes of accidents involving an electric cable in a domestic environment.

Many deaths in this category will be deaths in the workplace; those working on farms and in the power supply industry are at particular risk. Building sites also constitute a high-risk environment in this regard. Accidents can include cranes and ladders coming into contact with power lines, and pipes, poles and vehicles that have become energised. The people working in these jobs tend to be younger males, as reflected in the statistics above.

Many of these deaths could be avoided by the implementation of appropriate safety measures and procedures.

This category does not include deaths due to lightning. Those are included in ‘other external causes’ of death (Map 52).