electrical safety understanding and protecting yourself from electrical shock humbly presented by...
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Electrical SafetyUnderstanding and Protecting Yourself from
Electrical Shock
Humbly Presented
By
Prof. Bitar
Factors Involved in Electrical Shock
• The Amount of Current (amps)
• The Current Path
• The Duration
Q. So what about the Voltage?
What Does the Amount of Current Depend On?
• The amount of current that flows depends on the voltage applied as well as the body resistance. (ie. Ohm’s Law: I = V / R )
Dangerous Current Levels( Based on a Body Weight of 150 Lbs. )
Effect / Feeling Current (mA) DC AC(60Hz)
Incident Severity
Slight Sensation 1 0.4 None
Perception Threshold 5.2 1.1 None
Shock Not Painful 9 1.8 None
Shock Painful 62 9Spasm
Indirect Injury
Painful, Muscle Clamps(Can’t Let Go) 76 16 Possibly Fatal
Severe PainRespiratory Arrest
(Can’t Breathe)170 30 Frequently Fatal
Heart Fibrillation(after 3 seconds) 500 100 Probably Fatal
Source: Environment, Safety, and Health Manual, Volume II, Part 16.1, U.S. Dept. of Energy at University of California Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Contract W-7405-ENG-48, Feb 1996.
Body Resistance (Ohms)Contact Points Dry ( Wet (
Wire Touched by Finger 40,000 – 1,000,000 4,000 – 15,000
Hand Holding Wire 15,000 – 50,000 3,000 – 5,000
Finger Thumb Grasp 10,000 – 30,000 2,000 – 5,000
Hand Holding Pliers 5,000 – 10,000 1,000 – 3,000
Palm Touch 3,000 – 8,000 1,000 – 2,000
Hand Around Pipe 1,000 – 3,000 500 – 1,500
Two Hands Around Pipe 500 – 1,500 250 - 750
Source: Environment, Safety, and Health Manual, Volume II, Part 16.1, U.S. Dept. of Energy at University of California Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Contract W-7405-ENG-48, Feb 1996.
Scenario #1
• An electrician with sweaty hands picks up a live 120VAC 60Hz circuit (finger-thumb grasp)…
Q1: How much current will flow?
Q2: Is this amount of current fatal?
Scenario #2
• A lab power supply is set to +/- 30V DC with wires all over the bench. A coke is accidentally spilled, and a student wipes up the mess with paper towels…
Q1: How much current will flow?Q2: Is this amount of current fatal?
Where is the Danger?
• How many volts are involved in a typical electrostatic shock? Isn’t this dangerous?
• If I grab the terminals of a 12V car battery, will I be electrocuted? What is the danger?
• Which is more dangerous, DC or AC?
Safe Working Habits
• One Hand...• Never Alone…• Safety Glasses…• Shut Power Off…• Unplug Equipment…• Remove Obstacles…• Be Neat…• Discharge Capacitors…
Four Phases of Electrical SafetyBased on Electrical Safety Training at Massachusetts Electric Co.
• Unconsciously Unsafe
• Consciously Unsafe
• Consciously Safe
• Unconsciously Safe
What About Protecting Components and Equipment?
1. Do Not Exceed…• Voltage Ratings (Volts)• Current Ratings (Amps)• Power Ratings (Watts)
2. Use a Reasonable Safety Margin• Commercial• Industrial• Medical• Military / Aerospace
A Remarkable Story…
• 20,000 Volts 60Hz AC• Estimated Current (50-100mA)• Grabbing with Both Hands• A Critical Path• Longer than 3 Seconds
“It is good to learn from one’s mistakes… but it is better to learn from the mistakes of others.”
“There, but for the grace of God go I !”George Whitefield (1714-1770)
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