Flow diagram analysis of electrical fatalities in construction industry

The current study reanalyzed 250 electrical fatalities in the construction industry from 1996 to 2002 into seven patterns based on source of electricity (power line, energized equipment, improperly installed or damaged equipment), direct contact or indirect contact through some source of injury (boom vehicle, metal bar or pipe, and other conductive material). Each fatality was coded in terms of age, company size, experience, performing tasks, source of injury, accident cause and hazard pattern. The Chi-square Automatic Interaction Detector (CHAID) was applied to the coded data of the fatal electrocution to find a subset of predictors that might derive meaningful classifications or accident scenarios. A series of flow diagrams was constructed based on CHAID result to illustrate the flow of electricity traveling from electrical source to human body. Each of the flow diagrams can be directly linked with feasible prevention strategies by cutting the flow of electricity.

► Proposed flow diagrams for implementing barrier based on distinctive accidents scenarios of 250 real cases.
► The addition of two indirect electrocution patterns can help to prevent indirect electrocution hazards.
► The proposed model can help to decide the best prevention strategy to avoid electrocution.