Mortality patterns of a cohort of 31,068 U.S. electrical workers who primarily worked in the construction industry were evaluated between 1982 and 1987. Comparison to the U.S. population by using the NIOSH life table showed significantly elevated proportionate mortality (PMR) for many causes. Excess mortality for leukaemia and brain tumors is similar to reports of electrical workers with occupational exposure to electric and magnetic fields in the electric utility or manufacturing industry. Excess deaths due to melanoma skin cancer are consistent with findings of other polychlorinated biphenyl-exposed workers. A significantly elevated PMR was observed for the diseases caused by asbestos (lung cancer, asbestosis, and malignant mesothelioma), and from fatal injuries, particularly electrocutions. The findings of statistically significant excess deaths for prostate cancer, musculoskeletal disease, suicide, and disorders of the blood-forming organs were unexpected.

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