• Embed Doc
  • Copy Link
  • Readcast
  • Collections
  • CommentGo Back
Download
 
 
2009
Rob Vajko 8/19/2009 
The Basics of Electrical Safety
“Like a tiger cub that has grownup, we tend to be so “used to”electricity that we can easily forget how dangerous it can be.”
 
www.nationalsafetyinc.com
Page 2
©
 
National Safety, Inc.
 
The Basics of Electrical Safety
Do you remember your last power outage? If you’re like most people than it didn’t take you long torealize how dependant you actually are on electricity. Can’t go online, can’t watch TV, can’t put in amovie, house starts getting cold, can’t cook, etc…Electricity is an integral part of our lives and one that we take for granted most of the time. We flip aswitch and the light comes on; we don’t think about it, we just flip the switch. And it is this familiaritythat can, if we aren’t careful, become dangerous.The truth is that almost 600 people each year get killed by electricity and thousands are injured, someseriously; some in ways that leave them crippled for life. Electrocutions are the fourth most commoncause of death in the workplace. Like a tiger cub that has grown up, we tend to be so “used to”electricity that we can easily forget how dangerous it can be.Understanding the nature of electricity and the potential hazards involved is crucial for a safe handlingof the power we live with daily. Electrical Safety training isn’t just for electricians.
How many milliamps does it take?
One of the most common misconceptions is that lower amounts of power aren’t that dangerous. Thetruth is that it’s more about the conditions that are present (grounding, path of current, etc…) thanabout the amount of current. As little as 0.5 milliamps can be detected by the human body and as littleas 0.05 milliamps can be fatal. Even appliances and other electrically powered equipment that is nolonger connected to a power source can be fatal. Stored electricity that has not been purged can stillpose a threat.
Understanding the terms
•
 
Conductors
– “current-friendly” elements; substances that offer little or no resistance to theflow of current
•
 
Current
– The flow or movement of electrical charge
•
 
Grounding
 – A conductive connection to the earth that serves to dissipate the current
•
 
Insulators
 – Substances that offer a high resistance to the flow of current
•
 
Resistance
– Anything that impedes or opposes the flow of current
•
 
Voltage
– a measurement of the force of current
 
www.nationalsafetyinc.com
Page 3
©
 
National Safety, Inc.
 
Electricity and the human body
Direct Injuries
Direct injuries are injuries that are directly due to contact with electricity.The severity of the injury will depend on three factors:1.
 
The
path that the current
takes as it travels through the body. One of the reasons thatelectricity is so often fatal is that the point of entry and the point of exit usually goes throughthe heart. The point of entry is usually a hand. The electrical current exits through whicheverpoint of the body is grounded. This is usually the foot which is in contact with the ground orsome other point of contact or the other hand which is touching something else. The heart isright in the middle of both of these paths.2.
 
The
amount of current
that travels through the body3.
 
The
amount of time
that the current is in the body. The longer the currant is in the body themore damage it inflicts.The soft tissues in the body, partly because of the high water content, are the most affected. This meansthat the greatest damage is done to vital organs like the heart, the liver, etc…As little as 3 milliamps will result in shock. By 10 milliamps or so the body will start having muscularcontractions. By 30 milliamps the person will start experiencing respiratory paralysis, by 50 heartparalysis. Anything over this has a high chance of being fatal. At 75 milliamps the heart can go intofibrillation which brings about death unless a defibrillator is used in time. Tissue burning and scalding isalso present above 4-5 amps.A simple Google image search under “Electrical Burns” will turn up enough photos to drive home theseverity of this form of injury (Not a recommended search for those with weak stomachs)Additionally, because the softer tissue is beneath the skin (dry skin is a very poor conductor. Moisture inthe skin, however, rapidly increases the conductivity) many of these burns happen under the skin andaren’t visible until imaging and other medical techniques are used.
Indirect Injuries
In addition to the direct injuries we have what we are calling “indirect injuries”. Indirect injuries areinjuries that are caused by
trauma
as a result spasms or falls causes by an electrical jolt. Becauseelectricity causes muscles spasms and because people react to electrical shock, many of the injuries arenot a direct result of the electrical current but rather because of a fall or blow due to the reaction to theshock.
of 00

Leave a Comment

You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...
You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...