In 2024/25, RIDDOR recorded 7 fatalities and 150 non-fatal injuries specifically from "contact with electricity or electrical discharge". Over the last decade, “contact with electricity” was responsible for 5% of all workplace fatalities according to HSE data.
It’s clear that while electrical shock may be an uncommon risk in the workplace, it’s a risk that can be fatal.
So, if you or a team member experiences an electrical shock in the workplace, you need to know how to respond to reduce the likelihood of serious injury or even death.
Here’s a quick overview of what to do if you or someone else experiences an electric shock:
1. Break contact with the electrical source - if you’re helping someone else, the best option is to switch the power off at the mains or use a dry, non-conductive object to move them away from the source. Never touch someone who is still in contact with electricity.
2. Check for responsiveness
3. If the person is unconscious or not breathing, start CPR as soon as possible
4. If the person is conscious, treat burns and any other injuries
5. Call 999, 111 or seek urgent medical care, especially if you or the casualty experiences any symptoms, or if it was a significant electrical shock
Keep reading for a more comprehensive overview of what to do if you get an electrical shock.
What to do after an electric shock in the UK?
If either you or someone else experiences an electric shock, the first thing you should do is break contact with the electrical device - ideally by turning the power off at the mains. Never touch someone who is still in contact with electricity.
Below, we break down the exact steps to respond to an electric shock, depending on whether you’ve been shocked yourself or you’re helping someone else who has experienced an electric shock.
How do you treat electrical shock
To treat electric shock, always remember that the first priority is your own safety.
If You’ve Been Shocked Yourself:
1. Let go of the electrical source immediately and move away.
2. Turn off the electricity supply, ideally at the mains.
3. Call 999 or 111, depending on the severity of the shock - even if you feel completely fine.
4. Always call 999 if you have received a significant shock or you:
a. Have problems breathing
b. Start to feel confused or weak
c. Suffer from chest pain, seizures or muscle contractions
d. Have visible electrical burns or blisters
e. Start to feel numb or experience paralysis
If you’re Helping Someone Else:
1. Make sure it’s safe to approach the casualty - never touch someone who’s still in contact with electricity.
2. Turn off the power at the mains, plug, switch, circuit breaker, or isolator (following recommended NHS guidance) if it’s safe to do so.
3. If you can’t turn off the power, break the person’s contact with the electrical source by:
a. Moving the electrical source away from the person, or the person away from the electrical source, using a dry, non-conductive object (like a wooden spoon, a dry rope, a wooden broom handle or a plastic chair). Never use anything metal or wet.
b. Standing on dry, insulating material, like a wooden box or plastic mat.
4. Only approach once you’ve confirmed that their contact with the electrical source has been broken.
6. Check for responsiveness - shake the person’s shoulders and ask ‘Are you okay?’. Then open their airway and check their breathing.
7. Call 999 ASAP - especially if the person:
a. Has received a significant shock
b. Is unresponsive or unconscious
c. Is confused or weak
d. Has chest pain or difficulty breathing
e. Is experiencing seizures or muscle contractions
f. Has visible electrical burns or blisters
g. Is paralysed or feels numb
8. If the person is not breathing, start CPR immediately (see our free CPR poster for step-by-step guidance):
a. Call 999 (if you have not done so already)
b. Ask someone to bring an AED if one is available.
c. Begin CPR immediately and continue until the AED arrives, then follow its prompts.
9. If the person is breathing normally, treat any injuries and monitor until help arrives:
Keep monitoring their breathing for changes, and be ready to act
Symptoms after an electric shock
There is a wide range of symptoms that you might experience after an electric shock, from mild tingling to potential cardiac arrest. Because electricity travels through the body, it can disrupt the heart’s rhythm, damage the nervous system and heart, and lead to serious delayed symptoms.
Here’s an overview of the most common electric shock symptoms:
Chest pain
Difficulty breathing
Irregular heartbeat
Burns
Confusion
Weakness
Numbness or tingling
Seizures
How first aid training can help you respond to electric shocks
In industries such as construction, manufacturing, engineering, facilities management and maintenance, the risk of electric shock is significantly higher.
First aid training helps equip your team with the skills to quickly and safely respond to electrical shocks, from knowing how to protect themselves from further harm to providing life-saving first aid until emergency services arrive.
In-house first aid training from First Aid Safety
Cooling a burn safely and quickly is the best way to reduce the severity of the injury. While the guidance in this blog outlines how to respond to a burn or scald, it’s not a replacement for structured first aid training, which gives you the skills to act quickly and confidently in an emergency situation.
The team at First Aid Safety provides a range of HSE-compliant workplace first aid courses, including:
Our regulated first aid course certificates are valid for three years and accredited by Qualifications Network UK. All training courses are delivered in-house, at your business or workplace, covering London and the UK.
To learn more about our workplace first aid courses or to book a training course, get in touch with our team today.
For additional guidance and practical insight, you may also find the following articles useful:
We also offer a range of free downloadable first aid posters that are suitable for workplace display, including:
Let's help you find the right first aid course for your workplace.
Electric Shock FAQs
Yes. If you have experienced anything other than a very minor electrical shock with no symptoms, you should seek medical attention (either A&E, calling 999 or 111 - depending on the severity of the shock and the symptoms).
Electricity can cause hidden internal injuries, including muscle damage, difficulties breathing and heart rhythm disturbances, which may not always be immediately apparent.
Even if you have no symptoms, seeking medical attention is recommended by the NHS.
You will most likely be okay after a small, low-voltage shock, but it’s still advised to seek medical attention.
If you have experienced a minor shock and have no symptoms, you can call 111 for medical advice and to determine whether you should visit A&E to be looked at.
Even a small shock from a household plug can occasionally cause delayed complications, which is why medical advice is recommended if you are unsure.
If you experience any symptoms, you should visit A&E immediately, or call 999 depending on the severity of the symptoms (for example, if you have chest pain or difficulty breathing).
Immediately after an electric shock, break contact with the source and turn off the power at the mains.
If someone else has experienced an electrical shock, you should first turn off the power source before touching the casualty. If you’re unable to turn off the power, use a dry, non-conductive object (for example, wood or plastic) to move the person or the electrical source away from each other.
Yes, even a minor or low-voltage electrical shock can cause nerve damage. Electricity can easily pass through nerve tissue, causing trauma, thermal burns or a vascular injury to the nerves.
Symptoms commonly include:
Muscle weakness, twitching or cramping
Persistent pain
Numbness or ‘pins and needles’
Paralysis in more extreme cases
Always seek medical attention if you experience any of the above symptoms following an electric shock.
Although people have survived extremely high voltages, it’s the amperage or current that determines whether a shock will be survivable. As little as 100 to 200 milliamperes (0.1 to 0.2 amps) passing through the body can be fatal.
At 10-16 milliamperes, this is where the muscles involuntarily contract, making it impossible to let go of the electrical source.
While voltage itself is not what kills, any voltage over 50 volts AC (or 120 volts DC) is considered to be highly dangerous as it can push lethal current through human skin.
Electric shock can cause delayed symptoms, which can be a sign of severe internal injuries. Crucial delayed symptoms to look out for include:
Irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias)
Chest pain or difficulty breathing
Tingling, numbness, weakness or paralysis
Memory loss, confusion or other cognitive changes
Seizures
Muscle pain or circulation issues
Vision or hearing problems
If you experience any of the above delayed symptoms after an electrical shock, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Even if you have no symptoms, it’s strongly advised to call 111 or seek a medical evaluation to ensure that the shock has not caused any invisible damage.
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