When someone on your worksite gets an electric shock, the first few minutes matter enormously. Electrical injuries can cause cardiac arrest, serious burns, internal damage, and secondary injuries from falls — and the right response can mean the difference between life and death.
This guide is written specifically for electricians, lineworkers, and construction trades workers. It walks through exactly what to do when a colleague has been shocked — step by step, in plain language, without the fluff.
Why Electric Shock First Aid Is Different
Electric shock first aid isn’t the same as responding to a standard medical emergency. A few things make it uniquely dangerous for the person helping:
- The source of electricity may still be active
- The injured person may still be in contact with a live conductor
- High-voltage injuries can affect people even when they’re not directly touching the source
- Secondary injuries — such as falls from heights or muscle spasms — are common
According to Safe Work Australia, electricity is a leading cause of workplace fatalities in Australia. Electricians, lineworkers, and those working in construction and maintenance are among the highest-risk groups. Knowing how to respond — and how to stay safe while doing it — is an essential skill for anyone in the trade.
Step 1 — Make the Scene Safe Before You Touch Anyone
This is the most important step and also the one people most commonly get wrong. Do not touch the injured person until you are certain the electricity is off.
If the person is still in contact with a live conductor and you touch them, you will be electrocuted too.
Here’s what to do:
- Turn off the power at the source — the switchboard, the isolator, or the tool. Don’t assume disconnecting the plug is enough.
- If you can’t turn off the power, do not approach. Call 000 and wait for emergency services with the equipment and training to manage live electricity.
- For low-voltage household current (240V), it may be possible to push a person clear using a dry, non-conductive object (such as a wooden broom handle) — but only as a last resort, and only if you are certain there is no high-voltage risk involved.
- For high-voltage electricity (above 1,000V), the safe distance is several metres. Do not approach. Call 000 immediately.
WorkSafe Victoria makes clear that the scene must be confirmed safe before anyone renders assistance. This applies even in time-critical situations.
Step 2 — Call 000 Immediately
Any electric shock significant enough to cause a person to lose consciousness, fall, convulse, or stop breathing requires emergency services. Call 000 as soon as the scene is safe.
When you call, provide:
- Your location — be as specific as possible, including site address and any landmarks
- What happened — electric shock, voltage if known, whether the person is conscious
- How many people are injured
- Whether anyone else is at risk
Even if the person appears to have recovered, they still need to be assessed by emergency medical personnel. Electrical injuries can cause internal damage and cardiac arrhythmias that aren’t immediately visible.
Step 3 — Assess the Person and Start CPR If Needed
Once the scene is safe and 000 has been called, approach the injured person and assess them using the standard DRSABCD framework recommended by the Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC):
- D — Danger: Confirm the area is still safe
- R — Response: Tap their shoulders and call their name. Do they respond?
- S — Send for help: Ensure 000 has been called
- A — Airway: Open the airway by tilting the head back and lifting the chin
- B — Breathing: Look, listen, and feel for breathing for up to 10 seconds
- C — CPR: If not breathing normally, begin CPR — 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths, repeating at a rate of 100–120 compressions per minute
- D — Defibrillation: If an AED (automated external defibrillator) is available, attach it as soon as possible and follow the prompts
Electric shock is a leading cause of cardiac arrest in workplace settings. The ARC guidelines are clear: early CPR and early defibrillation significantly improve survival outcomes. Do not wait to see if the person recovers on their own — if they’re not breathing normally, start CPR.
Continue CPR until the ambulance arrives or the person shows clear signs of recovery.
Step 4 — Manage Electrical Burns
Electrical burns are often more serious than they appear on the surface. Electricity travels through the body and can cause internal burns along the current’s path, even when the entry and exit wounds look minor.
If the person is conscious and breathing:
- Do not remove clothing stuck to a burn — it may tear the skin
- Cool the burn with cool (not ice cold) running water for at least 20 minutes — this applies even for electrical burns, per current Australian burn guidelines
- Cover the burn loosely with a non-fluffy, sterile dressing if available
- Do not apply creams, oils, or any other substances to the burn
- Keep the person warm to prevent shock
Even small-looking electrical burns require hospital assessment. The internal damage from electric shock can include muscle breakdown, kidney injury, and nerve damage — none of which is visible from the outside.
Step 5 — Monitor and Manage Secondary Injuries
Electrical injuries frequently cause secondary problems that need attention alongside the burn itself:
- Falls: If the person was working at height, check for fractures or spinal injury. Do not move them unless there is immediate danger, and if spinal injury is possible, support the head and neck while waiting for emergency services.
- Muscle spasms and pain: Electric shock can cause violent muscle contractions. Reassure the person and keep them still and comfortable.
- Breathing difficulty: The electrical current can affect the muscles involved in breathing. Monitor the person’s breathing and be prepared to begin CPR if it deteriorates.
- Loss of consciousness: If the person loses consciousness at any point, place them in the recovery position if they are breathing, and monitor closely.
Keep the person calm, warm, and still until emergency services arrive. Talk to them, explain what’s happening, and reassure them that help is on the way.
Why Regular First Aid Training Matters for Electrical Workers
Knowing what to do in an emergency is one thing. Being able to actually do it — quickly, calmly, and correctly — when a colleague is on the ground is another.
First aid training builds muscle memory. It helps you stay composed when adrenaline is running high and the stakes are real. For electrical workers specifically, that training needs to include hands-on CPR practice, AED use, and burn management — not just theory from a workbook.
Safe Work Australia’s model WHS regulations require that workplaces have an adequate number of trained first aiders. For trades and construction worksites, this typically means at least one trained first aider per work area, with access to appropriate first aid equipment.
If your team’s first aid training is overdue, or if you’ve never had practical training specific to the hazards in your workplace, now is the right time to fix that.
AB First Aid offers practical, nationally recognised first aid courses tailored for workers across trades and construction. Courses are run in Tullamarine and are available for individuals and groups. To book your place or view the current course schedule, visit the AB First Aid enrolment page.
References
- Safe Work Australia — Electrical Hazards in the Workplace: www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au
- WorkSafe Victoria — Electrical Safety: www.worksafe.vic.gov.au
- Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) — DRSABCD Action Plan and CPR Guidelines: resus.org.au
- Burn Treatment: Australian and New Zealand Burn Association (ANZBA) — First Aid for Burns: www.anzba.org.au
