Electricity Safety: One Wrong Move Can Turn a Rescue Into a Fatality
Electricity powers homes, businesses and industries across Nigeria, but it remains one of the most underestimated hazards in many communities. In recent years, incidents involving fallen power lines, exposed cables and unsafe electrical connections have continued to claim lives, injure residents and damage property.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission recently issued a strong public safety advisory warning Nigerians to maintain a safe distance from live wires and to avoid touching anyone who is in contact with electricity. The message is simple but critical: do not become the next victim.
In many electrical emergencies, instinct takes over. When people see someone being electrocuted, the natural reaction is to rush forward and pull the person away. However, electricity does not distinguish between a victim and a rescuer. Touching a person who is still connected to a live source can transfer the current directly into the rescuer’s body, creating multiple casualties within seconds.
Electrical current passes through the body in search of a path to the ground. If you grab a victim with bare hands, your body may become that pathway. The result can be cardiac arrest, severe burns, nerve damage or death. What begins as an attempt to save a life can quickly escalate into a double tragedy.
For health, safety and environment professionals, this advisory highlights a recurring gap in public awareness. Electrical hazards are often invisible. A fallen wire may appear harmless. A wet surface may increase conductivity without people realizing it. Improvised connections and illegal tapping into power lines further raise the risk in densely populated areas.
The Commission outlined three immediate steps that can prevent secondary casualties. First, keep your hands off. Never touch a live wire or a person who is still in contact with electricity. Second, stand back. Maintain a safe distance and ensure bystanders do the same. Electricity can arc or travel through the ground, especially in wet conditions. Third, call the professionals. Notify the nearest electricity distribution company or emergency services immediately so trained personnel can isolate the power source safely.
From an HSE perspective, prevention remains the strongest control measure. Communities must be educated to report fallen power lines immediately. Construction activities near overhead cables should follow safe clearance distances. Households should avoid makeshift electrical repairs and ensure certified technicians handle installations.
Employers also have a responsibility. Workplaces should conduct regular electrical risk assessments, provide lockout and isolation procedures, and train staff on emergency response without direct contact. Clear signage around high voltage areas and functional circuit breakers can significantly reduce exposure.
Electricity is essential for development, but it demands respect. Safety awareness must move beyond reactive warnings to sustained community engagement. Schools, markets, transport hubs and residential areas should incorporate electrical safety education into public messaging.
Every year, preventable electrical accidents occur because someone underestimated the danger or acted without proper knowledge. The safest rescue is one that does not create another victim. When it comes to live wires, distance is protection, and professional intervention is the only safe solution.
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