Citation

Lindström R, Bylund PO, Eriksson A. J. Forensic Sci. 2006; 51(6): 1383-1388.

Affiliation

Section of Forensic Medicine, Department of Community Health and Rehabilitation, Umea University, PO Box 7616, SE-907 12 Umea, Sweden.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, American Society for Testing and Materials, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1556-4029.2006.00257.x

PMID

17199625

Abstract

This study analyzes accidental fatalities caused by electricity-at work and during leisure time-to evaluate risk factors, the role of alcohol, and to identify possible preventive strategies. In Sweden, data on fatalities by electrocution from 1975 through 2000 were collected from the National Cause-of-Death Register. Additional cases were found in the archives of The Swedish National Electrical Safety Board. Suicides and deaths by lightning were excluded. Two hundred and eighty-five deaths were found, including occupational (n=132), leisure time (n=151), and unknown (n=2). Most deaths were caused by aerial power lines, and the most common place for an electrical injury was a railway area or residential property. Postmortem blood from 20% (n=47) of the tested cases was found positive for alcohol, and these persons were killed mainly during leisure time. During the study period, the overall incidence of electricity-related fatalities has decreased, in spite of increased use of electricity. This indicates that safety improvements have been successful.

Language: en