Being an electrician is a rewarding career pathway, but the vocation does come with risks. Electrician tasks such as installing, maintaining and repairing electrical systems come with the occupational hazard of coming into direct contact with live conductors. Essential that we are prepared and have the necessary skills and knowledge to handle situations that may arise.
Whether you’re an aspiring electrician or an apprentice wanting to know more, we’ve put together this guide to help you understand how to respond appropriately to emergencies.
Ready to upskill? Check out our Perform Rescue from a Live LV Panel and CPR or Provide First Aid and Perform CPR courses.
Causes of electrical emergencies
Many electrical emergencies are preventable with the right knowledge and training. Electricians need to be familiar with different types of electrical issues that can result in emergency situations.
Common types of electrical emergencies include
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Electric shocks that occur due to nature or electrical problems such as faulty appliances or wiring, damaged cords or water.
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Power lines that have fallen for various reasons such as impact (i.e. car crash) or severe weather conditions.
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Electrical fires may start due to circuit overloads, low-quality appliance chargers, portable heaters and even lights.
Electrical safety industry regulations
Due to the hazardous nature of electrical work, industry regulations exist t help ensure everyone on site's safety. Electricians must understand and stay up to date with these rules and regulations.
Employers must maintain a safe working environment for their team by providing information and training, procedures for safe work, appropriate equipment and adequate supervision. On the other hand, employees have a responsibility for their own safety. They must also avoid any act or omission that affects the safety of those around them. Employees also need to cooperate with their employers by following safe work procedures and using the right protective equipment.
You can read about the safe working guidelines and effective supervision of electrical apprentices here.
In addition, regulations exist that are directly related to Occupational Health and Safety, electricity, telecommunications, gas or water industry safety and compliance, environmental protection, anti-discrimination and training. Commonwealth, State, Territory or Local Government legislation and regulations may exist limiting the age of operating specific equipment.
However, the potentially hazardous nature and workplace safety implications of working with high voltage electrical equipment mean that strict, legally enforced regulations govern this position.
Learn about how to safely operate high voltage switching systems here
Be prepared for an Electrical Emergency Response
An electrical emergency response situation can be confronting and frightening. It's essential that you remain as calm as possible and take swift action, so you need to be prepared. Ensure that you know your site safety plan and have the relevant training to handle the situation.
If someone is unconscious, they may have received an eclectic shock, have trouble breathing or have burns on their body. Call an ambulance immediately and keep the person lying down, warm and still until they arrive. You will also need to call emergency services, for example, in the event of an electrical fire.
Electrical emergency response and CPR courses
For electricians and other trades alike, the College of Electrical training allows you to develop your electrical emergency response knowledge. Whether it's accident prevention, essential electrical cord maintenance, or low voltage switchboard rescue, our general courses cover the skills that anyone can benefit from.
Enrol now to add to your skillset, help bring safety to the job site, add value to your own resume, and gain skills you can take into any position. See our CPR courses below or our full list of general courses for more information.
Perform Rescue From a Live LV Panel and CPR
This nationally accredited course provides training and knowledge to perform rescue procedures from live low voltage (LV) apparatus within the workplace. It also trains electricians with the necessary first aid and CPR skills to help save lives if an accident occurs.
The skills learnt in the Perform Rescue From a Live LV Panel, and CPR course will help you at work and prepare you to face any accidents that might happen when you’re off the clock.
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Provide First Aid and Perform CPR
This nationally accredited course provides the specific training required to provide a first aid response to a casualty. It includes responding to an emergency, applying first aid procedures, communicating incident details appropriately, and evaluating the incident and personal performance once the incident is over.
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Get in touch with CET to learn more about our general courses and how you can gain this valuable skill set that will significantly enhance your future employment prospects.