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How Shock Occurs Lecture 1 Electric Shock Professor Ahdab Elmorshedy

The severity of the shock received when a person becomes a part of an electric circuit is affected by three primary factors:

The amount of current flowing through the body The path of the current through the body The length of time the body is in the circuit.

Shock & the Human Body

Other factors that may affect the severity Of shock are the: Frequency of the current; Phase of the heart cycle when shock occurs General health of the person.

The effects of electric shock depend upon the type of circuit, its voltage, resistance, current,
pathway through the body, and duration of the contact.

Effects can range from a barely perceptible tingle to immediate cardiac arrest. There are no absolute limits or even known values that show the exact injury from any given
current.

A difference of less than 100 mA exists between a current that is barely perceptible and
one that can kill.

The so-called low voltages can be extremely


dangerous because, all other factors being equal, the degree of injury is proportional to the length of time the body is in the circuit.

Muscular contraction caused by stimulation may not allow the victim to free himself or herself from
the circuit, and the increased duration of exposure increases the dangers to the shock victim.

For example, a current of 100 mA for 3 seconds is equivalent to a current of 900 mA applied for0.03
seconds in causing ventricular fibrillation.

LOW VOLTAGE DOES NOT IMPLY LOW


HAZARD!

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A severe shock can cause considerably more damage to the body than is visible. For example, a person may suffer internal hemorrhages and destruction of tissues,
nerves, and muscles.
1 mA 1 mA

How Electricity Hurts People


Current Current
1 -3 3 mA mA 13 -15 15 mA mA 31515 30 mA mA 15-30 3030 75 mA mA 30-75 7575 200 mA mA 75-200

Impact Impact on on People People


no no sensation sensation sensation, sensation, no no pain pain pain, pain, most most people people can can get get away away pain, pain, half half of of people people freeze freeze pain, pain, breathing breathing difficult, difficult, asphyxiation asphyxiation possible possible ventricular ventricular fibrillation fibrillation certain certain ventricular ventricular fibrillation fibrillation severe severe burns, burns, heart heart stops stops

In addition, shock is often only the beginning in a chain of events. The final injury may well be from a fall, cuts, burns, or broken bones.

200200 300 mA mA 200-300 300+ 300+ mA mA

Burns & Other Injuries


The most common shock-related injury is a burn. Burns suffered in electrical accidents may be of three types: Electrical Arc Thermal contact

Electrical burns are the result of the electric current flowing through tissues or bone. Tissue damage is caused by the heat generated by the current flow through the body. Electrical burns are one of the most serious injuries you can receive and should be given immediate attention.

Arc or flash burns are the result of high temp. near the body and are produced by an electric arc or explosion. They should also be attended to promptly. Thermal contact burns are those experienced when the skin comes in contact with hot surfaces of overheated electric conductors, conduits, or other energized equipment.

Additionally, clothing may be ignited in an electrical accident and a thermal burn will result. All three types of burns may be produced simultaneously.

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Preventing Electrical Hazards


Electrical accidents appear to be caused by a combination of three possible factors: unsafe equipment and/or installation; workplaces made unsafe by the environment; and unsafe work practices. There are various ways of protecting people from the hazards caused by electricity. These include: insulation; guarding; grounding; electrical protective devices; and safe work practices.

Ohms Law of Electricity


Voltage is almost always a constant so electrical current levels are determined by the resistance to flow. When there is a potential for electrical shock we can protect ourselves by maximizing our resistance to current flow. This is done by wearing insulating shoes and gloves, and by not making direct contact with a source of ground potential such as plumbing or other sources of ground.

V=IR
V = electrical potential (volts) I = electrical current (amps) R = resistance (ohms)

Extension Cord Hazards

Common Power Cord Problems


Exposed Wires

Extension cords are approved for temporary use only. If extended use is required, hard wiring such as a new outlet should be installed. Power cords are doubly insulated and should be replaced if the outer layer of insulation becomes frayed exposing wires.

Overloaded Circuit

Electrical Shock Hazards

Don Dont use equipment with damaged insulation

Another common way in which power cords can be overloaded is by plugging one power strip into another. All of the current drawn by any device plugged into any of the strips must flow through a single cord

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Water and Electricity


Outlet without GFCI

Typical Transformer
Eyewashes should be located away from electrical devices and outlets. Outlets within six feet of a sink or other source of plumbing must be GFCI protected in order to minimize shock hazards. An unprotected outlet (non-GFCI) is illustrated above.

Transformers are potential sources of high voltage and may also contain polychlorinated biphenyls.

Working Safely with Electricity

Outlet Wire Color Conventions


Several different outlet wiring color conventions exist, but dont take anything for granted. Typically the hot wire is black, the neutral or return wire is white, and the ground wire is green.

Surge Suppressors and GFCIs Lock Out/Tag Out Safety Rules First Aid Fire Fighting

Function of a Typical GFCI


Switches
Hot Line In

GFCI Receptacle Current Sensor


Load

Neutral Line In

A GFCI or ground fault circuit interrupter shuts off the flow of current upon sensing a fault condition such as an electrical shock. Switches quickly open in the GFCI device in order to prevent the shock victim from receiving a lethal amount of electricity.

A GFCI compares the amount of current I the hot conductor with amount of current in the neutral conductor

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GFCI Use
Any outlet within 6 feet of a sink or other source of plumbing should be equipped with a GFCI. GFCI device may be located at a circuit breaker instead of an outlet. This arrangement allows several outlets to be protected with a single GFCI device.

A (GFCI) is an electrical device which protects personnel by detecting potentially hazardous ground faults and quickly disconnecting power from the circuit. Any current over 8 mA is considered potentially dangerous depending on the path the current takes, the amount of time exposed to the shock, and the physical condition of the person receiving the shock.

Typical GFCI Outlet


Receptacles containing a GFCI are noted by the test and reset buttons, and should be tested monthly to insure proper operation.

Electrical Safety In Action

GFCI

1
The GFCI should trip

A fault current as low as 4 mA to 6 mA activates the GFCI and interrupts the circuit. Once activated, the fault condition is cleared and the GFCI manually resets before power may be restored to the circuit

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GroundGround -fault circuitcircuit-interrupter


The ground-fault circuitinterrupter (GFCI) receptacle protects against electrical shock caused by a faulty appliance, or a worn cord or plug It senses small changes in current flow and can shut off power in as little as 1/40 of a second.

Some things GFCI do not protect you from. from . A GFCI does not protect a person who comes in contact with two hot wires or any hot wire and the neutral wire wire. . A GFCI does not protect a person from feeling and reacting to shock

The Cord-Connected Type of GFCI is an attachment plug incorporating the GFCI module. It protects the cord and any equipment attached to the cord.

Breaker locked in off position

Lock out/Tag out


To insure the safety of repair personnel, electrical panels and equipment with electrical panels must be locked out and equipment tagged out of service before any repairs are performed. The lock must never be removed from an electrical panel until repairs have been completed, and only then by an individual with the appropriate authority. Repairs must only be performed by trained professionals.

Because GFCIs are so complex, they require testing on a regular basis. Test permanently wired devices monthly, and portable-type GFCIs before each use. All GFCIs have a built-in test circuit, with test and reset buttons, that triggers an artificial groundfault to verify protection.

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First Aid for Electrical Shock Victims


The most common symptom of electrical shock is physical shock. Signs of physical shock include: 1) Cold, clammy skin 2) Pale face 3) Chilled feeling or patient is physically shaking 4) Nausea or vomiting 5) Shallow breathing.

Approved Treatment for Physical Shock Patients


1) Keep patient lying down 2) Keep airway open 3) Elevate patients legs if no bones are broken 4) Keep patient warm if conditions are cool or damp 5) Give fluids if patient is able to swallow 6) Never give alcohol to patient 7) REASSURE the patient

Test tag should be current

Electrical Fires
Dry chemical extinguishers (also know as ABC extinguishers) are approved for fighting electrical fires. The label indicates the type of extinguisher that is present. Electrical fires should only be fought if the situation is well in hand. If you feel uncomfortable fighting a fire, pull the alarm and exit the building.

Safety-Related Work SafetyPractices


Protection of Employees Passageways and Open Spaces Lockout and Tagging of Circuits

ABC
Small Nozzle indicated on label

Protection

SafetySafety -Related Maintenance Practices


Maintenance of Equipment Environmental Deterioration of Equipment no conductors or equipment can be located: In damp or wet locations. Where exposed to gases, fumes, vapors, liquids Where exposed to excessive temperatures.

Against Electrical Injuries

Using low (and safe) voltage Insulating and/or enclosing live parts. Preventing conducting parts not normally live from becoming live: by earthing and automatic disconnection of the supply . By double insulation . By separating the supply from earth By limiting electrical energy .

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Preventing Electrical Hazards


Selecting equipment suitable for the environment in which it is to be used. Using equipment as defined in the makers instructions. Ensuring that electrical equipment is adequately maintained. These include: Insulation Guarding Grounding Electrical protective devices Safe work practices.

Care of Cords & Equipment

Care of Cords & Equipment

Power tools and extension cords must be inspected each time they are used. They must be taken out of service immediately upon discovery of worn or broken insulation.

Electrical panel boxes must be secured and problems reported immediately. Junction boxes, outlets, receptacles, and switches must be closed and problems reported.

Care of Cords & Equipment

Care of Cords & Equipment

Electric panels must be kept clear of any obstructions at all times. Storage is not allowed in electrical vault or service panel rooms. Find another place for storage of materials, products, etc.

If the power went out, and you needed to get to the electrical panel box breakers in this room, what could happen to you? Think about it carefully!

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