5 Cons of Being an Electrician (You Should Know This)

Electricians have many reasons to expect a bright future in terms of job demand and a higher salary, compared to other popular trades. But what are some of the disadvantages of being an electrician? Being an electrician is by no means an easy trade, and the job does have its downsides.

Being an electrician does indeed, in my experience, require some periodically hard physical work. Electricians also sometimes work in challenging environments and difficult weather conditions, that can be physically and mentally demanding. The job is also considered to be stressful according to 57 percent of electricians.

Being an electrician can be a highly rewarding job. If you enjoy helping people, working with your hands and you’re good with problem-solving, becoming an electrician just might be a great career for you. However, it also has its cons. In this article, I will discuss the most common disadvantages of the job

What Are the Disadvantages of Being an Electrician?

If you’re thinking about becoming an electrician, then chances are that you want to know a little more about the job. You may also be trying to understand what it’s going to take, once you are actually on the job site. This article is designed to give you some information on the concerns of the cons you have and present some of the considerations that you need to make before deciding whether this is the right career path for you.

As an electrician, you will do interesting and enjoyable work, and you will be directly involved in implementing helpful solutions. If that sounds like your kind of job, there is good news: it’s a growing field with lots of opportunities for the right candidate. On the downside, there are also some obvious cons about working as an electrician. The following are some disadvantages I’ve found worth mentioning.

An Electricians Job is Physically Demanding

Installing small electrical components such as power outlets and other minor materials is not all that an electrician does. You may also be required to carry heavy loads of materials, tools, and equipment on occasion. One of the most prevalent causes of injuries is working with electrical components with your hands over your head, especially in the shoulders, neck, and lower back. Electricians must frequently reach high spots, such as light outlets, which necessitates working with their hands over their heads for long periods of time. The physically demanding work is directly influencing the previously early retirement age of electricians.

Also Read: 3 reasons why being an electrician can be physically demanding

Electricians, on average, retire at the age of 59.9 years old, according to earlier research. The average age of retirement for electricians is determined mostly using data from the United States, but the values are also cross-referenced with retirement statistics from 38 other countries.

However, electricians who started working in 2018 can expect to retire at the age of 62.6 years. These were the figures I found to be statistically viable from official sources (OECD) while also being supported by research on this topic after completing an analysis of the projected retirement age of electricians compared to all other occupations.

An Electricians Job Can Be Dangerous

According to a study conducted by The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), electrical current exposure accounts for just around 4% of all fatalities. One worker in a million died as a result of an electrical accident. Although one death is definitely too many, electrocution is a significantly less common hazard than is widely reported and feared. Electrocution is commonly being perceived as the most dangerous part of an electrician’s job. However, there are some not-so-obvious situations that pose a higher risk for electricians.

Also Read: Most common dangers of being an electrician (it’s not what you think)

Transportation and injuries arising from falling, slipping, and tripping are actually the most significant work-related dangers for electricians. Electrical current exposure injuries are not the most common hazard, ranking as the 6th most common cause of injury and fatality among electricians.

Being struck or crushed by objects is also a concern for electricians. By all accounts, this is an accident that we, like electricians, want to avoid at all costs. Most of the time, this is caused by a lack of awareness of one’s surroundings and an overestimation of one’s ability to multitask.

This category includes injuries sustained as a result of a worker being struck, crushed, or caught by equipment or machinery. 703 workers died as a result of these accidents in 2020. When working in a complicated environment like a construction site, these types of hazards become particularly dangerous. Heavy machinery and equipment, such as cranes, vehicles, heavy drills, and other materials falling from great heights, are examples of objects.

Difficult Environments and Weather Conditions

The numerous job positions, heavy equipment, and shifting environments that electricians operate in can be taxing on the body over time. An electrician, on the other hand, can have a lengthy and physically sustainable profession for many years if he or she does daily chores carefully and with caution.

Also Read: What does an electrician actually do?

The various awkward situations that electricians will find themselves in are one of the most typical reasons why they become physically strained over time. Shifting postures during the day and wearing protective clothing are the greatest ways to avoid potential injuries, notably kneeling, crouching, and crawling.

Being an Electrician Can be Stressful

Electricians are one of the most in-demand jobs out there. There’s a fluctuating demand for new electricians, even though the profession itself is not necessarily that new. That said, it can be a stressful job, especially when you consider the number of responsibilities electricians can have as well as the sacrifices they have to make for their job.

According to a survey of 350 electricians, 54 percent of them regard their professions to be stressful. The majority of responders also mention that the amount of responsibility you take on as an electrician will largely decide your degree of stress.

Those who engage in construction or maintenance jobs that require manual labor, such as electricians, are at a higher risk of physical stress. This is due to the fact that electricians are frequently forced to utilize heavy tools, install main power wires, and transport equipment during the course of their shift.

Also Read: Is being an electrician stressful?

Many of the mental difficulties can be dramatically lessened as your electrical career progresses. You’ll learn about safety regulations and how to execute the job correctly in trade school and as an apprentice. If an electrician takes on too many job obligations, he or she may experience some mental stress. This will be a problem especially if you are uncomfortable with the assignment you have been given.

Longevity Concerns

Finally, with respect to the electricians’ trade, there is the issue of lifespan to consider. Will I be able to handle a complete career as an electrician, and will my mind and body be able to handle it in the long run? This way of thinking can cause a lot of anxiety and mental strain.

Also Read: At what age do most electricians retire?

In this particular trade, a good routine must be established so that you do not become burned out and lose your energy when you retire. The decisions you make in terms of nutrition and sleep will have a significant impact on the electrician’s ability to work for a long time.