Webinar Highlights Critical Electrical Hazards and Prevention in Construction Industry
A recent webinar hosted by CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training, held in Silver Spring, MD, focused on electrical hazards in the construction industry. Joseph McManigal, a senior risk engineering consultant at Zurich Resilience Solutions, emphasized that electrical hazards are pervasive throughout construction projects and affect all workers. He stressed that the safest electrical work is performed only after the hazard has been completely removed. McManigal highlighted that many construction industry stakeholders need to improve their recognition of electrical hazards and understanding of incident causes. Data from Electrical Safety Foundation International indicates that nearly 1,700 workplace electrical fatalities occurred between 2011 and 2024, with 70% involving workers in non-electrical occupations. Contact with overhead power lines remains a leading cause of electrocution, particularly for workers in material handling, steel erection, and utility work. 
