Electrocution in the construction industry: a systematic review

Electrocution has emerged as one of the fatal four occupational hazards due to its pertinent fatal effects in the construction industry. This systematic review presents an overview of electrocution incidents between 2015 and 2025, drawing on peer-reviewed studies and grey literature (PubMed, Scopus, IEEE Xplore, Google Scholar, CPWR) as well as data from the OSHA Integrated Management Information System (IMIS), the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI). A total of 575 records were screened, resulting in 14 manuscripts and selected agency case reports included in this study, supplemented by registry data. Findings indicate that contact with overhead power lines was the most frequent and fatal, accounting for approximately 39–40% of incidents. Also, direct contact with power sources above 220 V represented about 36% of cases. Descriptive epidemiology studies showed that nearly 50–52% of incidents involved overhead power lines and 29–30% involved stored electricity. The review showed that although electricians and power line installers experienced the largest number of fatalities following direct contact with energized equipment, non-electrical workers like the roofers, laborers, painters, etc., accounted for more than half of all electrical fatality incidents. Environmental conditions, such as wet, confined places, and working at height, further increased the risk and severity of these occurrences. Although technical failures such as missing ground-fault protection, poor clearance, and inadequate lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures were recurring causes, these often reflected deeper organizational pressures, limited supervision, and weak safety culture. The findings highlight the need for integrated prevention strategies that combine stricter procedural enforcement, task-specific training, and management accountability to reduce electrical fatalities in construction.