A boilermaker at a New South Wales coal mine was welding a handrail when he suffered an electric shock.

The NSW Resources Regulator investigated and discovered the worker had made contact with the welder handpiece while leaning on the bench as he was welding.

Electricity takes the path of least resistance, and if that means conducting through the air or a body, there’s little to be done once it gets going.

A current will not flow unless it has a complete circuit, which is why mine workers need to be particularly careful when completing tasks that risk breaking a flow.

“Workers involved with welding activities should remain insulated from the welding job. Welding gloves are not electrical insulators,” the Regulator said.

“Damp gloves and clothing can increase the likelihood of suffering an electric shock.”

Australians are lucky that high safety standards and regulations keep incidents to a minimum but accidents still happen, and some of the most common causes of electrical hazards occur from using electrical tools in damp environments.

In 2021–22, the Western Australian Department of Mines, Industry Regulations and Safety reported its safety and health snapshot in which 601 notifiable incidents of electric shocks were reported on mine sites.

While there were only four injuries and they were all classed as minor, the report found 88 of those 601 incidents had “strong potential” to result in injury.

That’s why the impacts of electrical incidents shouldn’t be underestimated – even a small shock can have dire consequences.

Aside from burns, an electric shock can cause seizures, breathing problems and even cardiac arrest. Issues such as pain, numbness and difficulty moving limbs most commonly abate, but in some instances they can be permanent.