Included are the manufacturing of electricity distribution equipment; electrical industrial apparatus; household appliances; electrical lighting and wiring equipment; radio and television receiving equipment; communications equipment; electronic components and accessories; and other electrical equipment and supplies. The manufacture of household appliances is included in this group, but industrial machinery and equipment powered by built-in or detachable electric motors is classified in SIC Code - 35, Establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing instruments are classified in Major Group 38.

This segment includes Establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing power, distribution, instrument, and specialty transformers. In addition, this includes establishments that are primarily engaged in manufacturing switchgear and switchboard apparatus. Important products of this industry include power switches, circuit breakers, power switching equipment, and similar switchgear for general industrial application; switchboards and cubicles, control and metering panels, fuses and fuse mountings, and similar switchboard apparatus and supplies.

Also are included are establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing electric motors (except engine starting motors) and power generators; motor generator sets; railway motors and control equipment; and motors, generators, and control equipment for gasoline, electric, and oil-electric buses and trucks. Other establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing relays; motor starters and controllers; and other industrial controls and control accessories as well as establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing industrial and commercial electric apparatus and equipment, not elsewhere classified, such as fixed and variable capacitors and rectifiers for industrial uses.

Household appliance segment includes establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing household electric and nonelectric cooking equipment, such as stoves, ranges, and ovens, except portable electric appliances. This industry includes establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing microwave and convection ovens, including portable. Other establishments are engaged in manufacturing household refrigerators and home and farm freezers. This market segment includes establishments that are primarily engaged in manufacturing laundry equipment, such as washing machines, dryers, and ironers, for household use, including coin-operated.

There are other establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing electric housewares for heating, cooking, and other purposes; and electric household fans, except attic fans. Important products of this industry include household-type ventilation and exhaust fans; portable household cooking appliances, except convection and microwave ovens; electric space heaters; electrically heated bedcoverings, electric scissors; and portable humidifiers and dehumidifiers. Included within this category are manufacturing vacuum cleaners for household use and the manufacture of household appliances, not elsewhere classified, such as water heaters, dishwashers, food waste disposal units, and household sewing machines.

Another critical market are those establishments who are engaged in manufacturing electric bulbs, tubes, and related light sources. Important products of this industry include incandescent filament lamps, vapor and fluorescent lamps, photoflash and photoflood lamps, and electrotherapeutic lamp units for ultraviolet and infrared radiation. For the household, there are establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing electronic audio and video equipment for home entertainment (including automotive), such as television sets, radio broadcast receivers, tape players, phonographs, and video recorders and players. This industry includes establishments manufacturing public address systems and music distribution systems.

There are establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing noncurrent-carrying wiring devices. Important products of this industry include conduits and fittings; electrical insulators, except porcelain and other ceramic insulators and glass insulators; outlet, switch, and fuse boxes; and pole line hardware. Boxes, electric wiring: junction, outlet, switch, and fuse Conduits and fittings, electrical Face plates (wiring devices) Insulators, electrical: except glass and ceramic pole line hardware, raceways snubbers for CATV systems.

Within the group of electronics and circuitry are establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing printed circuit boards, semiconductors and related solid- state devices. Important products of this industry are semiconductor diodes and stacks, including rectifiers, integrated microcircuits (semiconductor networks), transistors, solar cells, and light sensing and emitting semi-conductor (solid-state) devices. Additionally, this section includes information on electrical capacitors, resistors, coils, transformers, inductors, and various electronic components. Storage Batteries is a final level of the “Manufacturing” Division. Common types are alkaline cell storage batteries, nickel-cadmium, lead-acid storage, primary wet and dry, and rechargeable batteries.

This segment includes establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing electrical equipment for internal combustion engines. Important products of this industry include armatures, starting motors, alternators, and generators for automobiles and aircraft; and ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines, including spark plugs, magnetos, coils, and distributors.

The following table represents only the potential occupational health concerns related to the entire wholesale trade for both durable and nondurable goods industry based on job task or work activity, and any related OSHA standards for regulatory compliance. The information presented does not indicate or suggest a relative risk of exposure based on the location within the table nor provide any exposure information. Health risks associated with fatigue, working long hours, stress living away from home, and other psychosocial disorders are not addressed.

The data from the OSHA IMIS does not specify the job title or position description of the worker who was sampled. Therefore, the identification of the Exposed Personnel reflects the best judgement of the author of the profile

The focus of this information is to provide guidance to understand the occupational health hazards from chemical substances, physical and biological agents, radiological, ergonomic, and environmental hazards from exposure to plants and animals. Potential occupational health exposures in this industry were derived from the OSHA Integrated Management Information System database between 1984 to 2020. In addition, the NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluations for the industry were carefully reviewed and the pertinent health hazard information incorporated into the tables from 1978 to 2020. The NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation Program helps employees, unions, and employers learn whether health hazards are present at their workplace and recommends ways to reduce hazards and prevent work-related illness.

Photos courtesy of Getty Images.