20 Surprising Statistics About Electrical Emergencies in Australia

The primary reason for electrical safety is to prevent injuries that could lead to death, as electrical malfunctions could ignite fires. Additionally, electrical safety in an industrial and commercial setup is essential for making a productive workplace that minimises electrical disturbances so that the firm can operate without interruptions and reduce downtime.

Common Electrical Hazards Being Overlooked

Common electrical risks that are easily overlooked include bad wiring or old wiring, too many circuits, exposure to water, faulty appliances, and improper use of light bulbs and extension cords, can be found among electrical hazards. Damages to electric wires and cables and poor grounding of cables are also tasks left undone most of the time when considering protection against electrical hazards. 

Improperly handled exposed cables and wires can lead to electric shocks, fires, and burns. Cables and wires could be dangerous whenever the insulation is damaged, giving way to electric arcing onto an adjacent metal object and eventually starting a fire.

Local Electrician Sydney promotes electrical safety awareness by auditing, repairing, and providing general information resources. We offer reliable service to domestic and commercial establishments that require assistance in hazard identification and keep them abreast to stay safe with electricity.

Addressing or Preventing Electrical Emergencies

Both individuals and employees are supposed to ensure electrical safety to prevent incidents, injuries, or death. Safety practices can be devised from the following: 

• Keep electrical equipment from water
• Disconnect electrical items correctly
• Where possible, install or maintain electrical cords properly
• Electrical power lines prohibit us from contacting them
• Investigating the strangest flickering light
• Use warning signs

Shocking Numbers on Electrical Risks

Every year, electric shocks kill 76 Australians. This statistic from the Australian Bureau of Statistics does not account for those individuals whose electrical mishaps had gone unreported or who sustained injuries that were not fatal.

1. Kinds of electrical fatalities: Of the nine people electrocuted in the years 2021 to 2022, 33% were electrical workers, 56% were non-electrical workers, and 11% were people from the general population. Most electrical deaths associated with networks result from working on or near energised overhead conductors, and about 90% are related to overhead conductors. Consumer appliances and equipment are twice as involved in deaths than electricity suppliers’ assets.

2. Electrical fatalities: Eight electrical deaths were recorded in the two Australias in the 2022-2023 period, the equivalent of 0.25 deaths per million people (dmp). A decrease of 0.07 dmp from the previous year with ten deaths.
3. Electricians’ death: Electricians are under severe risk within their work. Reports note 44 deaths of electricians attributed to traumatic injuries. Among these deaths, electrocution was the cause of 23 and nine were due to falls from height.
4. 52% due to electrocution: Electrocution accounted for 52% of the 44 electrician fatalities over the past 10 years.
5. Compensation claim for electrocution: The frequency of serious workers’ compensation claims for electricians due to electrocution is about six times greater than the average across all occupations.
6. 90% of deaths from overhead conductors: 90% of the electrical deaths involving power supply networks were associated with overhead conductors.
7. 660 hospitalisations: In Australia, 660 hospitalisations occurred due to electricity and air pressure injuries in the year 2021-22. 
8. 30 injured or killed each year: Roughly 30 people in Australia are injured or killed every year from electric shock.
9. 429 electric shock incidents: These figures were reported to SafeWork SA in 2023.
10. Approximate number of deaths due to electrical accidents at home: About 15 Australians perish, and some 300 are hospitalised each year due to preventable electrical accidents. Around 450 accidental deaths by electricity at home were preventable with a safety switch. 

Facts Every Home and Business Should Know

11. Incidents of electrocution deaths: Seventy-three per cent of incidences due to electrocution deaths would occur in the home. Causes of electrical emergencies are faulty wiring, overloaded circuits, and lightning strikes.
12. No safety switches: Nearly 40% of Australian households are still susceptible to electrical risks because of not using safety switches. Roughly 30% of homes have protection for their power outlet circuits, including 30% of their light circuits. 
13. House fires due to electrical emergency: Electrical fault is Australia’s leading cause of house fires. According to estimates, the number could go as high as 40% of all fires occurring in NSW due to electrical faults and appliances. 
14. Electrical injuries: Between 2014 and 2016, a report indicated that about 1,065 people were admitted to hospitals due to electrical injuries, while 55 died from electrical injuries.
15. Electric Shock: More than one worker daily suffers electric shock in South Australia, and close to one-third of businesses take too long to report this incident to SafeWork SA.
16. Annual electrocution deaths: About 20 deaths per year occur from electrocution in Australia, but over half of these deaths occur in homes, emphasising that home environments are particularly vulnerable.
17. Number of House fires: More than 17,000 residential house fires occur in Australia each year, of which around 6,500 are in New South Wales (NSW).
18. Number of hospital admissions: The Queensland University of Technology has reported annual hospital admissions of around 3.78 cases per 100,000 population due to electrical injuries. The figures expose the constant danger of improper maintenance of the electrical circuit.
19. Cost of downtime due to electrical hazards: The typical Australian industrial business incurs a cost of approximately $349,000 per hour in downtime related to unplanned events.
20. Cost of rewiring: A typical 2-bedroom house (single-phase power) usually costs from $3,000 to $8,000, while that at a 4-bedroom house varies between $7,000 and $15,000. While a 4-bedroom house may range from $7,000 to $15,000.

Why These Statistics Matter

Statistics equip households and companies to put safety measures in place to counter all kinds of electrical hazards, comply with the law, and make informed decisions about financial matters, safeguarding lives and assets.

Electrical Safety

The numbers about electrical hazards show the dangers and types to help improve the safety protocols of workplaces and homes. These statistics stress the need for strict supervisory measures in safety, including inspections, maintenance, and employee training. 

Regulatory Compliance

Complying with electrical safety regulations protects the means to meet legal requirements and avoid penalties. Electrical risk statistics educate organisations about their responsibilities to comply with standards such as the Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 3000:2018 and other regulatory bodies.

Financial Aspects

Electric incidents can blaze the trail for financial losses, such as workers’ compensation claims, medical expenses, and productivity loss. Understanding the electrical risk statistics will help homes and businesses with safety measures to reduce the likelihood of accidents, achieving financial stability.

Risk Management

Electrical risk statistics provide data to estimate and manage risks in electrical systems. They help ensure organisations can assess what factors may lead to risk, estimate their likelihood, and establish severity, putting in place control measures to minimise risk and avoid accidents.

Insurance Purposes

Insurance companies utilise electrical risk statistics to rate risks fairly and charge premiums accordingly. The greater the depth of knowledge concerning the electrical system within the building, including power mapping, the better the insurer can determine the policy price and coverage options.

Seeking the professional help of licensed electricians is important to ensure safety, regulatory compliance, and quality assurance for electrical work.   

How Local Electrician Sydney Can Help

We are always available to provide excellent electrical emergency services 24/7. Our expertise and skills enable us to attend to emergencies involving sparking outlets, blown fuses, power outages and electrical faults, whether they are visible or hidden. We are here for you day and night, whenever and wherever you need us.

Local Electricians Sydney ensures your home, business, or property is safe from fire hazards. Call us today at 02 9119 1344 any time of the day for any electrical work and emergencies you may have. We service Campbelltown, Castle Hill, Kingswood, Emu Plains, Liverpool, Marsden Park, Penrith, Seven Hills, and Wollongong.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I know if I have an electrical emergency?

 An electrical emergency will let you know by seeing smoke or smelling something like burning rubber, frequent tripping of circuit breakers or power outages, flickering lights, and electric shocks.

2. When should I call an electrician instead of fixing something myself?

Some scenarios you should leave to a professional electrician include odd odours or humming sounds, light flickering from the same circuit, warm outlets or switches, frayed wires, non-working outlets, electric shocks, and occasional tripping of the circuit breakers. 

3. What are some quick safety steps to take before help arrives?

When dealing with an electrical emergency, you must ensure scene safety by not approaching the area, especially when it’s unsafe. Also, you should disconnect the power source to prevent electric shock or electrocution.

4. How often should my wiring be inspected?

The frequency of electrical inspection often depends on the following factors, such as the age of your home, how you use it, or if you have undertaken recent renovations. Generally, any home should allow qualified electrician to conduct a general inspection every three to five years. This is intended for assessing optimum performance of such systems in compliance with current safety standards.

5. Are power strips or surge protectors a good solution?

If you just need more outlets, and surge protection is not an issue, a simple power strip will work just fine. However, for advanced electronic devices, such as computers, televisions, and other valuable, surge protection is often a good investment.