Summary

Approximately 1,493 people were hospitalised as a result of an electrical injury during the two year period 2002–03 to 2003–04. 77 cases were identified in which lightning was associated with the injury.

Electrical injury rates in males were much higher than in females, while for both males and females, rates of hospitalised electrical injury were highest in the young adult and adult years.

52% of all cases had a principal diagnosis of effects of electric current (T75.4), and an additional 26% of cases had a principal diagnosis within the range of ICD-10-AM codes describing burns.

Of the cases where the principal diagnosis was a burn the majority (65%) were of the wrist and hand.

A large proportion of electrical injuries were found to occur during work activities. The first and second most frequently identified locations were the home and workplace.

Electrical injuries in children and older people were much less frequent than in other age groups. Of the 209 cases of electrical injury in 0–14 year olds, 18 cases occurred as a result of exposure to high voltage electric transmission lines.