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Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities

Electricians, 2016-2020


Background

Electricians install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures. They ensure that work is in accordance with relevant codes and may install or service street lights, intercom systems, or electrical control systems.

As of May 2020, there were 656,510 people employed in this occupation. The average hourly wage was $29.59, and the average annual wage was $61,550.

Nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses

In private industry for electricians, there were 7,270 nonfatal injury and illness cases involving days away from work in 2020. The incidence rate per 10,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers was 128.2.



Table 1. Number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work by selected case characteristics, electricians, private industry, 2020
Case characteristic[1]Number of cases

Nature of injury or illness

Soreness, pain

1,840

Sprains, strains, tears

1,670

All other natures

1,460

Fractures

890

Cuts, lacerations

800

Part of body affected

Knee

860

Hand

750

Multiple body parts

630

Back

610

Shoulder

600

Source of injury or illness

Parts and materials

1,690

Worker motion or position

1,260

All other sources

1,220

Floors, walkways, ground surfaces

740

Vehicles

470

Event or exposure leading to injury or illness

Struck by object or equipment

1,380

Fall to lower level

880

Exposure to harmful substances or environments

730

Fall on same level

640

Struck against object or equipment

460

[1] Data shown correspond to Nature, Part, Source, and Event codes based on the Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System 2.01 developed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses

Fatal occupational injuries

Fatal work injuries totaled 70 for electricians during 2020, compared to 68 during 2019.

Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure, electricians, all United States, 2016-2020
Event or exposure[1][2]20162017201820192020

Total fatal injuries (number)

7974806870

Violence and other injuries by persons or animals

5------7

Transportation incidents

1516201312

Fires and explosions

----------

Falls, slips, trips

2327141815

Exposure to harmful substances or environments

3017333029

Contact with objects and equipment

--97--5

[1] CFOI data by event are only provided if there are fatal case counts in three or more of the six event categories.

[2] Data shown correspond to Event codes based on the Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System 2.01 developed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Note: Dashes indicate data do not meet BLS publication guidelines.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

Sources

Wage and employment estimates come from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program. Injury and illness information come from the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) and Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI). For more information on SOII program concepts, see the definitions page and the SOII Handbook of Methods. For more information on CFOI program concepts, see the definitions page and the CFOI Handbook of Methods.

 

Last Modified Date: February 11, 2022