Electric Shock First Aid at Work: What to Do in Australia

Electric Shock First Aid: What to Do at Work in Australia

Electric shock is one of the most immediately dangerous incidents that can happen on an Australian worksite. The first few seconds matter, but the first priority is making sure the power source is isolated before anyone attempts to help. Approaching a person who is still in contact with live electricity can turn one casualty into two.

This guide explains the correct first aid response to an electric shock at work, when to call triple zero (000), why medical assessment may still be needed after an apparently minor shock, and how your workplace should manage electrical risks under Australian WHS requirements.

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Which Trades Face This Risk?

Electric shock is an obvious hazard for electricians, but the risk extends well beyond electrical trades. Welders and boilermakers work with electrical equipment and high-current welding systems, while HVAC technicians, maintenance workers, builders and other trades may work around electrical equipment, extension leads, switchboards and power tools.

Damaged cables, faulty equipment, wet conditions and poorly maintained electrical equipment can all increase the risk of electric shock. Safe Work Australia specifically identifies exposed live parts, damaged electrical equipment and harsh conditions such as wet or outdoor environments as important electrical hazards in the workplace. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

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The First Step: Make the Area Safe

Do not immediately touch the person. If they are still in contact with a live electrical source, touching them can expose you to the same current.

Before approaching:

• Look first and assess whether the person is still connected to the electrical source
• Switch off the electricity at the mains, isolation switch or circuit breaker if this can be done safely
• Do not approach a person who is in contact with a fallen power line
• Do not attempt to handle or move a live electrical cable
• Keep other workers away from the danger area
• Call triple zero (000) if the situation is an emergency or you are unsure how to make the area safe

Safe Work Australia emphasises that electrical risks must be managed so far as reasonably practicable, while healthdirect warns that rescuers can themselves receive an electric shock if they touch a person who remains connected to the electrical source. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

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What to Do Once the Power Is Isolated

Once you are certain the electrical source has been isolated and the area is safe, follow standard first aid principles:

• Check responsiveness and breathing.
• Call triple zero (000) if the person is unconscious, has difficulty breathing, has an abnormal heartbeat, or has suffered a serious fall or injury.
• Start CPR if the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally.
• Use an AED if one is available and follow its instructions.
• Check for burns, including possible entry and exit points where electricity has passed through the body.
• Treat burns with cool running water where appropriate rather than relying on burn gel as the primary treatment.
• Keep the person warm and comfortable while waiting for medical assistance.
• Continue monitoring them and be prepared to begin CPR if their condition deteriorates.

Healthdirect advises that electrical burns can be treated like other burns, including cooling the affected area under running water for at least 20 minutes and covering it with a sterile dressing where available. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

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When Should You Call Triple Zero?

An electric shock can be serious even when the visible injury appears minor. Call triple zero (000) for an ambulance if the person has:

• Lost consciousness, even briefly
• Difficulty breathing or is not breathing normally
• A very fast, slow or irregular heartbeat
• Suffered a significant fall or other serious injury
• Severe burns or other obvious injuries

Healthdirect also recommends medical assessment after an electric shock even when the shock initially appears mild, because electrical injuries can cause internal damage that is not immediately visible. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

If you are unsure how serious the situation is, call triple zero and follow the operator's instructions.

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Electric Burns Can Be Worse Than They Look

Electrical injuries can cause burns where electricity enters and exits the body, but the visible skin damage does not necessarily show the full extent of the injury. Electrical current can also affect the heart, nervous system, muscles and internal tissues.

This is why a small-looking electrical burn should not automatically be treated as a minor workplace injury. If someone has suffered an electric shock, arrange appropriate medical assessment and escalate to emergency services where the person has serious symptoms.

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Your WHS Obligations Around Electrical Risk

Australian businesses have a duty to manage electrical risks in the workplace. Safe Work Australia's guidance states that electrical risks must be eliminated, so far as reasonably practicable, or otherwise minimised. Businesses also need to ensure electrical equipment is safe, suitable and properly maintained. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

In practical terms, electrical risk management can include:

• Using electrical equipment that is suitable for the job and environment
• Removing damaged electrical equipment from service until it has been properly repaired or tested
• Using residual current devices (RCDs) where required
• Inspecting and maintaining electrical equipment
• Considering additional risks in wet, dusty, outdoor or confined environments
• Training workers to recognise electrical hazards
• Having appropriate emergency and first aid arrangements for foreseeable injuries

First aid is only one part of the control strategy. Preventing the electrical incident in the first place remains the priority.

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What Should Be in Your First Aid Kit?

If electric shock is a foreseeable hazard in your workplace, your first aid arrangements should reflect the types of injuries that could occur. A suitable workplace kit should include supplies for burns, bleeding, eye injuries and other trauma that could result from an electrical incident or an associated fall.

• CPR mask or resuscitation face shield: for situations where CPR is required
• Sterile burn dressings: for covering electrical burns after appropriate cooling
• Saline eyewash: for dust, debris and other eye contamination around work areas
• Non-adherent wound dressings: for cuts and other open wounds
• Conforming bandages: for securing dressings and supporting injuries
• Nitrile gloves: for providing first aid while reducing contact with blood and bodily fluids
• Thermal blanket: for keeping an injured person warm while awaiting medical assistance

For workplaces where electrical work is combined with construction, fabrication, maintenance or other physical trade activities, a comprehensive first aid kit provides broader coverage than a basic office kit.

The Trade Aid Classic Kit includes burn care, wound dressings, a CPR mask, gloves, bandages and other supplies suited to higher-risk trade environments.

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Electric Shock and Falls Often Go Together

One risk that can be overlooked is what happens immediately after the shock. An electrical shock can cause a person to lose consciousness, experience involuntary muscle contraction or fall from a ladder, platform or other elevated position.

That means the resulting injury may be more than an electrical burn. A worker could also suffer cuts, fractures, head injuries or other trauma from the fall.

This is another reason why a workplace first aid kit should be selected around the full range of foreseeable hazards rather than one specific injury.

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The Practical Takeaway

The correct response to an electric shock starts before you reach the injured person. Make the electrical source safe first. Once the area is safe, check responsiveness and breathing, call triple zero when emergency symptoms are present, begin CPR if required, and treat any burns or other injuries appropriately.

Even when an electric shock appears minor, medical assessment is recommended because electrical injuries can cause damage that is not immediately visible. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

For businesses where electrical hazards are a foreseeable part of the job, first aid arrangements should sit alongside proper electrical risk controls, equipment maintenance and worker training — not replace them.

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This is general safety information rather than medical advice. If someone has received an electric shock and is unconscious, having difficulty breathing, has an abnormal heartbeat or has suffered a serious injury, call triple zero (000) immediately. Follow the instructions provided by the emergency operator.

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Tax Deductible

Workplace first aid equipment may be deductible as a business expense where it is incurred in carrying on the business and connected with earning assessable income. Keep your receipt and speak with your accountant or tax adviser about the treatment that applies to your business.

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