Working as an electrician puts you in harm’s way. Despite popular belief that working with electricity is as easy as “turning a switch,” it actually presents a number of unique risks.
Noise and other physical hazards, such as electrical current, pose serious health risks to electricians and have been linked to permanent hearing loss and even death.
Working as an electrician exposes you to a wide variety of potentially harmful substances. Hazardous materials like lead, mercury, and asbestos will be present.
All of these chemicals are recognized to be cancer-causing carcinogens. Other substances may also be present, increasing your risk of allergic response or respiratory illness.
Contents
The Dangers of Working as an Electrician
The attractive career prospects in the field of electricity attract a lot of would-be professionals. Before we get into the benefits, though, there are some dangers you should be aware of.
Here are some potential downsides to your plan that you should think about.
Becoming an Electrician Isn’t Easy.
Some people believe that attending a trade school is all that is necessary to enter the field of electrical engineering. To become one of these experts, however, is merely the first of several requirements.
If you want to be an electrician, you need to spend a few years learning the trade as an apprentice before going out on your own. To be successful, you need to do more than just read and comprehend the instructions; you need to get your hands filthy so that there is always someone on hand who understands just what to do when calamity comes!
You should also spend at least two years as an apprentice to a single master electrician. This individual will be in charge of training you to become competent technicians by showing you the ropes.
Not too many risky tasks will be assigned to you as an apprentice. But have no fear! You’ll be asked to do things like repair cables and work in high-voltage areas that more seasoned electricians aren’t qualified to do.
If you’re willing to put in the time and effort required to become a fully-fledged electrician, you’ll be rewarded handsomely. Here at our firm, which provides only electrical services, you’ll get the chance to do things like inspecting construction sites and overseeing remote construction sites as part of your apprenticeship.
As a rising young professional, you must be well-versed in relevant technical information and observe all relevant safety procedures at all times.
Extended Working Hours
An electrician’s work schedule typically does not consist of 9 to 5. It’s the one job where, contrary to popular belief, you’ll be called to duty at all hours of the day and night, and it happens more frequently than you might think.
There can be occasions when you have to answer calls late at night to fix someone’s electrical system after they awoke to find they have no power.
The people in your area will look to you for assistance with all their electrical issues, and if they can rely on you (and they should), that means you’ll have to give up some of your personal time in order to be on call whenever they need you.
This job requires you to be professional and careful, despite its seeming simplicity. Your day, your paycheck, and even someone else’s life could be in danger if you mess up when working with electricity.
Physically Demanding Job
Work in the electrical sector is tough and demanding. While residential electrical work, such as changing light bulbs or installing new outlets, isn’t quite back-breaking, there will be occasions when you’re pushed to your physical and mental limits. Getting the task done well and on time may require some extreme measures, such as ascending steep ladders or squeezing through tight spaces in basements.
It’s possible that spending your days tethered to wires won’t be ideal after you hit your forties or fifties, but if this is a career path that interests you, then you should definitely give yourself plenty of time to train for it.
Hazardous Workplace
Despite the fact that electricians are more than the hazards and dangers they face on the job, it is important to remember that they do work with electricity. Fatal electrocution could occur if an electrician made a mistake while working on residential or commercial electrical systems.
How Dangerous Is It to Work as an Electrician?
Because of the different settings in which they may work, electricians must be flexible. They run the risk of falling, being burned by electricity, being exposed to a poisonous substance, and working in a small, enclosed outdoor environment with potentially dangerous weather conditions, such as rain, as opposed to a spacious, dry, interior space where they can stand while they do their work.
Falls
Electricians frequently have to operate in precarious environments, such as on rooftops or near live power lines. Accessing electrical wire in ceilings and attics increases the risk of falls since they must work at heights where objects can easily slide out from under them.
Electric Shock
An electrician’s greatest risk of injury is from electric shock. And with good cause, electricity presents real risks. Death or paralysis might result from complications such as trouble breathing and heart arrest after such an incident.
What’s the best approach to make sure nothing like this happens? Wear safety equipment such as gloves, a hard helmet with ear protection, and goggles before beginning any electrical project.
Electrocution
Working in an area where electricity plays a crucial role increases the likelihood of electrocution.
Taking normal precautions around live wires and being aware of your surroundings can help reduce the risk of electrocution.
Electrical Burns
Only electricity may produce the type of skin injury known as an electrical burn, and in most cases, the damage is confined to the epidermis. However, in extreme cases, electrical shocks can cause damage to the deeper tissues and even the nerves.
Electricians Need Safety Training
A solid electrician training program will teach you how to be safe in an ever-changing field. You’ll get to work with real-world equipment while learning how to solve problems and learn about safety practices for every situation. When it comes time to go out into the field, hands-on experience is crucial!
In an exceptional Electrician Training Program, you’ll get a lot of hands-on experience learning the skills you’ll need on the job, from mending things right here at school to dealing with crises where lives may depend on your actions or decisions made in those initial vital moments.
Electrical work requires a license that must be maintained throughout one’s working life. If you’re just starting out as an electrician, it’s a good idea to find a mentor who has been in the field for a while and can give you pointers on how to work safely and what you need to know to pass the licensing examinations in your state.
A corporate safety officer may hold weekly sessions with workers to discuss the need to avoid electrical shocks, ladder mishaps, and other potential sources of harm in the workplace. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has established minimum training requirements for these officials.
Conclusion
Many would-be professionals are drawn to the subject of electricity because of its enticing employment opportunities. Being an electrician puts you in the path of numerous potentially dangerous substances. Know the technical details and follow the safety protocols at all times. The normal workday for an electrician does not occur between the hours of 9 am and 5 pm. If an electrician makes a mistake while working on electrical systems, someone could be electrocuted to death.
Falls, electrical burns, and toxic material exposure are all potential hazards for electricians. The most common cause of harm for electricians is electric shock. Before doing any electrical work, make sure you have on gloves, a hard helmet with ear protection, and goggles. Electrical work is a dangerous occupation, but you can learn to do it safely in a well-designed training program.
Content Summary
- Noise and other physical hazards, such as electrical current, pose serious health risks to electricians and have been linked to permanent hearing loss and even death.
- Working as an electrician exposes you to a wide variety of potentially harmful substances.
- The attractive career prospects in the field of electricity attract a lot of would-be professionals.
- Before we get into the benefits, though, there are some dangers you should be aware of.
- Some people believe that attending a trade school is all that is necessary to enter the field of electrical engineering.
- If you want to be an electrician, you need to spend a few years learning the trade as an apprentice before going out on your own.
- Here at our firm, which provides only electrical services, you’ll get the chance to do things like inspecting construction sites and overseeing remote construction sites as part of your apprenticeship.
- An electrician’s work schedule typically does not consist of 9 to 5.
- It’s the one job where, contrary to popular belief, you’ll be called to duty at all hours of the day and night, and it happens more frequently than you might think.
- People in your region will look to you for electrical help, and if they can rely on you (and they should), you’ll have to sacrifice some personal time to be on call.
- This job requires you to be professional and careful, despite its seeming simplicity.
- Work in the electrical sector is tough and demanding.
- Despite the fact that electricians are more than the hazards and dangers they face on the job, it is important to remember that they do work with electricity.
- Because of the different settings in which they may work, electricians must be flexible.
- Electricians frequently have to operate in precarious environments, such as on rooftops or near live power lines.
- kAn electrician’s greatest risk of injury is from electric shock.
- Working in an area where electricity plays a crucial role increases the likelihood of electrocution.
- Taking normal precautions around live wires and being aware of your surroundings can help reduce the risk of electrocution.
- A solid electrician training program will teach you how to be safe in an ever-changing field.
