First Aid for Electrical Shock: Emergency Response That Saves Lives

When you find a colleague who has received an electrical shock, your first instinct will be to rush to help. Resist that instinct. The single most important rule in electrical shock first aid is to protect yourself before you touch the casualty. If the electrical supply is still live and the casualty is still in contact with it, touching them will make you a second casualty.

On a construction site, you should already know the location of the nearest isolation point for every temporary supply. This is covered during site induction and should be part of your risk assessment for every job. If you do not know where the isolation point is, you have already failed at the planning stage.

Isolating the electrical supply is the critical step that makes the scene safe for both you and the casualty. There are several ways to do this, depending on the situation:

Once the supply is confirmed isolated, you can safely approach the casualty. Time is critical — every second counts if the casualty is in cardiac arrest.

Electrical shock can cause cardiac arrest (the heart stops beating) or ventricular fibrillation (the heart beats erratically and cannot pump blood). Either condition is immediately life-threatening. CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) is the single most important intervention you can provide while waiting for the ambulance.

If an automated external defibrillator (AED) is available, use it as soon as possible. AEDs are designed to be used by anyone — the device gives voice instructions and will only deliver a shock if the heart rhythm requires it. Every construction site with more than 25 workers should have an AED readily available.

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Electrical burns are different from thermal burns. The electric current enters the body at one point (the entry wound) and exits at another (the exit wound), causing damage to all tissues in between. The surface burns may appear small, but the internal damage can be extensive — muscles, nerves, blood vessels, and organs along the current path can all be affected.

Arc flash burns are a separate category — they are thermal burns caused by the extreme heat of an electrical arc (which can reach temperatures of 20,000°C). Arc flash burns are treated the same way as any thermal burn: cool with water, cover, and get to hospital. The key difference is that arc flash can also cause blast injuries, hearing damage, and eye injuries from the intense UV light. This is why appropriate PPE including arc-rated clothing is essential for any work where arc flash is a foreseeable risk.

The short answer is: always. Every electrical shock incident warrants a 999 call. Even if the casualty appears uninjured and feels fine, the effects of electric current passing through the body can be delayed. Cardiac arrhythmias can develop hours after the initial shock.

On construction sites, the site emergency plan should include the location of the nearest A&E department, the site access route for ambulances, and the designated meeting point for emergency services. This information should be covered in the site induction and displayed on the site safety board.

The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) require certain workplace incidents to be reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Electrical shock incidents fall squarely within the scope of RIDDOR.

Beyond the legal requirement, recording and investigating every electrical shock incident (including minor ones that do not meet the RIDDOR threshold) is essential for preventing future incidents. A near miss reporting system captures the incidents that did not result in injury but easily could have. Every near miss is a free lesson.

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The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 require every employer to provide adequate and appropriate first aid equipment, facilities, and personnel. For electricians working on construction sites, this means having trained first aiders available and ensuring all workers know the basics of emergency response.

Elec-Mate offers a range of training courses through the study centre, including first aid, manual handling, PASMA, IPAF, working at height, and asbestos awareness. All courses are designed for electricians and can be completed on your phone between jobs.