Most fatal electrical shocks happen to people who are actually knowledgeable regarding electrical shock safety precautions. A majority of the electrical shock accidents occur when an employee in a rush disregards safety precautions that they know should be followed.
The following are some electromedical facts intended to make employees think twice before taking chances. It's not the voltage but the current that kills. People have been killed by 100 volts AC in the home and with as little as 42 volts DC.
The real measure of a shock's intensity lies in the amount of current (in milliamperes) forced through the body. Any electrical device used on a house wiring circuit can, under certain conditions, transmit a fatal amount of current.
Currents between 100 and 200 milliamperes (0.1 ampere and 0.2 ampere) are fatal. Anything in the neighborhood of 10 milliamperes (0.01) is capable of producing painful to severe shock. Current values and their effects are summarized below.
The severity of the shock increases as the current increases. Below 20 milliamperes, breathing becomes labored, and it can cease completely even at values below 75 milliamperes. As the current approaches 100 milliamperes ventricular fibrillation occurs. This is an uncoordinated twitching of the walls of the heart's ventricles.
Since you don't know how much current went through the body, it is necessary to perform artificial respiration to try to get the person breathing again. If the heart is not beating, cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is necessary.
Electrical shock occurs when a person comes in contact with two conductors of a circuit or when the body becomes part of the electrical circuit. In either instance, a severe shock can cause the heart and lungs to stop functioning. Additionally, severe burns may occur where current enters and exits the body
Prevention is the best medicine for electrical shock. Employees should respect all voltages and possess the knowledge of the principles of electricity. It is important to always follow safe work procedures.
Do not take unnecessary chances. All electricians should be encouraged to take a basic course in CPR so they can aid a coworker in emergency situations.
Portable electric tools should always be well maintained and in safe operating condition. Make sure there is a third wire on the plug for grounding in case of shorts. The fault current should flow through the third wire to ground instead of through the operator's body to ground if electric power tools are grounded and if an insulation breakdown occurs.
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