Professional electricians and installers are risking their lives every day by not following basic safety procedures before starting work, Super Rod has claimed.
2,044 installers were surveyed in 2022 about their safety habits, and although the findings show some positives, as an industry, Super Rod believes we have a long way to go – with an average of 13 fatalities and over 220 serious injuries a year, many of which could have been avoided if safe isolation was in practice.
The survey was inspired by Michael’s Story. Michael Adamson was just 26 when he died after coming into contact with mains voltage power in an incident at work in August 2005. He was an experienced electrician but there were a number of health and safety failings on the site where he was working – including the failure to implement safe isolation procedures and a failure to provide lock off devices and testing equipment – which would eventually lead to his tragic death.
Super Rod is now running the survey again to try and gauge whether or not safety has improved among electricians in the workplace. Open to electrical apprentices, electrical installers, electricians and maintenance workers, the survey can be found by clicking here.
The survey only takes a few minutes to complete, Super Rod says, and it will remain open until 31 August 2024.
Everyone who completes the survey will be in with a chance to win a Klein Tools Tradesman Pro Tool Bag kit including tools and a Super Rod Mega Set worth over £500.
The prize includes:
• A Tradesman Pro Tool Bag Backpack
• A five-piece Klein Tools VDE Insulated Screwdriver Set
• Klein Tools VDE Insulated Combination Pliers
• Klein Tools 160mm VDE Insulated Diagonal Cutters
• Klein Tools 7.5m Tape Measure
• Klein Tools Torpedo Level
• Super Rod Cable Tongue
• Super Rod Mega Set
The results of the survey, which will shed light on whether anything has changed in 2024, will be published in September.
The mission statement of Michael’s Story is to stop anyone else from losing a life or a loved one in a work-related incident which could and should have been prevented. This is such an important statement, so please do help the organisation to raise awareness about safe isolation so that everyone takes the necessary precautions to prevent any incidents.
For more from Super Rod, click here.