Citation

Pineault M, Rossignol M, Barr RG. J. Saf. Res. 1994; 25(2): 107-115.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1994, U.S. National Safety Council, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study describes the circumstances surrounding occupational fatalities by electrocution from 1981 to 1988 in the province of Quebec. Information was gathered through the Quebec Worker's Compensation Board, which is responsible for investigating occupational accident fatalities. Haddon's method of classifying information on accidents was adapted to the phenomenon of electrocutions. First, a model for analyzing the transfer of electricity to the victim was developed from the patterns observed in the data. The adaptability of the method was tested with an inter-rater reliability analysis. The analysis showed consistency between observers for five variables. The source of information was not as factual as was originally hypothesized. The one weakness in the analysis was the interpretation of hypothetical information contained in the investigation reports. In organizing the information, researchers differentiated between factual contents and hypothetical information, with factual information being the most useful in applying Haddon's method to electrocution. This method makes it possible to plan measures to prevent occupational fatalities by electrocution.