In brief
The first rule in electric shock is not to touch the casualty with bare hands until the current is cut; first the current is cut at the breaker, fuse or plug, and with high voltage nobody approaches and 112 is called. Once the current is cut, consciousness and breathing are checked and basic life support is started if needed. A casualty who feels fine should also be seen by a physician; heart rhythm disorders and hidden tissue damage can appear after the event.
Why is first aid for electric shock different?
In most accidents the first reflex is to run to the injured person. First aid for electric shock starts with the opposite: stopping. The casualty may still be in contact with the current source, and anyone who touches them with bare hands also becomes part of the circuit. An electrical accident therefore easily turns into an accident with two casualties.
The second difference is that the visible part of the injury is misleading. A small burn mark on the skin can hide greater damage to muscles, nerves and blood vessels along the path the current took through the body. If the current passed through the heart, there is a risk of rhythm disorders. Helping a person who has had an electric shock is therefore a two-stage process: first a safe rescue, then a physician's assessment even if there are no symptoms.
This article describes the steps that certified first aiders and employees at the workplace need to know. First aid procedures are carried out by first aiders certified by authorised centres; the employees' role is to cut the current without putting themselves at risk and to call for help.
Cutting the current: the first 30 seconds
- Do not touch. If the casualty is in contact with the source, do not touch them, the metal part they are touching or the wet floor.
- Cut the current at source. Switch off the relevant fuse or breaker in the panel, or pull the plug. A machine's emergency stop button stops movement but may not always cut the entire electrical supply; cutting the energy at the panel is essential.
- If you cannot cut it, separate with an insulator at low voltage. Stand on an insulating surface such as a dry board, a rubber mat or dry cardboard. Use a dry wooden or plastic rod to move the casualty away from the source or the cable away from the casualty. Do not use anything metal, wet or damp.
- Call 112. Report the incident, whether the current has been cut and the casualty's condition.
- Close off the area. Prevent others from approaching and make sure nobody will restore the current.
Some people wonder why the casualty does not let go of the cable or machine. Current can cause involuntary muscle contraction; the person may be unable to release the conductor in their hand. Waiting for them to "let go on their own" therefore wastes time. Every second counts, but the fastest way is always to cut the energy.
To cut the current quickly, the location of panels must be known and the space in front of them kept clear. Art. 12 of the Regulation on Emergencies at Workplaces requires the evacuation plan in the emergency plan to show the isolation points for electricity and gas. For panel arrangements, see our article on electrical panel safety.
Helping a person who has had an electric shock: after the current is cut
Once it is certain that the current has been cut, the casualty is approached and the certified first aider follows this sequence:
- Check consciousness: Speak to the casualty and tap their shoulder gently.
- Check breathing: If the casualty is unconscious, the airway is opened and it is checked whether breathing is normal. If there is no breathing or it is not normal, 112 is informed and basic life support is started; if there is an automated external defibrillator at the workplace, it is brought and its voice prompts are followed.
- Do not move: If the casualty has fallen or been thrown by the muscle contraction, there may be a spinal injury; they are not moved unless necessary.
- Deal with burns: There may be burns at the current's entry and exit points. The burned area is cooled with clean running water; stuck clothing is not pulled off, no cream, oil or toothpaste is applied to the burn, and it is covered with a clean cloth.
- Prevent heat loss: The casualty is covered and someone stays with them. Even if they are conscious, they are not allowed to get up and go back to work.
Unlike a thermal burn, an electrical burn looks small on the skin but can affect deep tissues. For general first aid for burns, see our article on burn first aid at work.
Hospital after electric shock: why, even without symptoms?
The sentence heard most often on site is "I'm fine, it was only a small shock." Even if the casualty feels fine, a physician's assessment is needed, because some problems are not noticed in the first minutes:
| What you see | Problem that may be missed | What does the physician look at? |
|---|---|---|
| Casualty standing and talking | Heart rhythm disorder; some may appear after the event | Whether an ECG and observation are needed |
| A small burn mark on the hand | Muscle, nerve and blood vessel damage along the current path | Entry and exit points, circulation and loss of sensation |
| Muscle pain after contraction | Widespread muscle damage and related kidney effects | Blood and urine tests if necessary |
| Fall from a ladder or being thrown | Fractures, dislocations, head and spinal injuries | Physical examination and imaging |
| Brief confusion | Neurological effects | Neurological assessment |
If chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, numbness in the arms or darkening of the urine occur in the hours after the event, the employee should go to the emergency department without waiting. For pregnant employees, a physician's assessment is especially important even without symptoms.
Do not leave going to the physician to the employee's choice; write the sentence "every employee who has an electric shock is assessed by a physician, even without symptoms" into the work instruction. The workplace physician plans the return to work and, if necessary, follow-up.
Records, reporting and root cause
An electric shock is not just a first aid event; it shows that something has gone wrong in the installation or the working method.
- Occupational accident reporting: If the event caused the employee an injury, it is an occupational accident and is reported to the Social Security Institution (SGK) within 3 working days of the accident (Art. 14/2 of Law No. 6331 on Occupational Health and Safety). For the steps after an accident, see our article on what to do after an occupational accident.
- Near miss record: A live casing or damaged cable noticed before anyone receives a shock should also be recorded.
- Renewing the risk assessment: Occupational accidents and near misses require the risk assessment to be renewed, regardless of its renewal period.
- Root cause questions: Did the residual current device trip, and if not, why? Was the earthing of the casing sound? Were the rules for working dead applied, and was the person intervening authorised?
For the technical side of these questions, see our articles on earthing and residual current devices and the five safety rules in electrical work.
What should employees be taught?
The person who determines the first minute in an electric shock is often not the first aider but the co-worker next to the casualty. This person needs to know three things: not to touch, where to cut the energy and to call for help. The way to teach this is not verbal explanation but a short on-site exercise:
- Panel tour: In each department, employees are shown the panel and breaker supplying their own area.
- Short scenario: The question "Your colleague appears stuck to the welding machine cable; what do you do?" is asked and the answer is practised on the spot.
- Insulating tool: If there is a dry wooden rod or an insulating tool, its location and use are shown.
- Drill: An electric shock scenario is used in one of the annual emergency drills.
This exercise can be a few minutes' section within induction training and training on job-specific risks.
What to add to the emergency plan
The electric shock scenario should be a separate heading in the emergency plan:
- The location of main and sub-distribution panels, which panel supplies which department and where the panel keys are kept.
- The names of certified first aiders on each shift; the number of first aiders is one for every 20, 15 or 10 employees depending on the hazard class, and the night shift is included in this calculation. For shift-based planning, see our article on emergency teams on the night shift.
- The location of the automated external defibrillator, if there is one, and the burn supplies in the first aid cabinet; our article on first aid cabinet supplies gives guidance on the contents.
- In workplaces with high voltage installations, communication with the distribution company and the people authorised to cut the power.
- On construction sites, the location of temporary electrical panels and the person responsible; for site-specific rules, see our article on temporary electrical installations on construction sites and our construction sector page.
You can track the expiry dates of first aid certificates and the annual inspection of the electrical installation with the OHS calendar.
In businesses in Bursa and the surrounding provinces, we build the electrical accident scenario into the plan and drill programme under our emergency plan service; the health assessment after an incident and the return to work are part of our workplace physician service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you touch a person who has had an electric shock?
Not until it is certain that the current has been cut. First the current is cut with the fuse, breaker or plug; if it cannot be cut, at low voltage the rescuer stands on an insulating surface and separates the casualty from the source with a dry wooden or plastic rod.
Should an employee who got a shock from a socket but feels fine go to hospital?
Yes, a physician's assessment is needed. Heart rhythm disorders and internal tissue damage may not show symptoms in the first minutes; the physician decides whether an ECG and observation are needed.
Does an electric shock count as an occupational accident?
If it happened at the workplace or in the course of work and caused the employee an injury, it is an occupational accident. It is reported to SGK within 3 working days of the accident.
What should be done in a high voltage accident?
Nobody approaches the casualty, the area is closed off from a distance, and 112 and the distribution company's fault line are called. Intervention takes place only after competent persons have confirmed that the power has been cut.
An emergency plan that really works on site, with scenarios, support teams, evacuation diagrams and an annual drill.
Bursa SİSTEMER OSGB Technical Team — written from the field experience of our OHS specialists and workplace physicians. Legal information is valid as of the publication/update date; contact us for an assessment specific to your business.