Lesson 2

Severity
 The Dangers of Electrical
Shock

The severity of injury from exposure to electricity depends on two

factors: the level of electrical current (amperage) and the duration the
current passing through the body.
The level of current is determined by both the voltage and resistance
of an electrical pathway. The higher the voltage and lower the resistance,
the greater the current. The next factor determining severity is the duration
of exposure to electricity. The longer the employee is exposed, the greater
the severity of injury. OSHA considers all voltages of 50 volts or above to be
hazardous because, as we know, electric current, not voltage, passing through
the human body causes injury, and the amount of current passing through an
object depends on the resistance of the object.
The internal resistance of the human body is about 500 ohms, which is
the minimum resistance of a worker with broken skin at the point of contact.
The current through 500 ohms from a live part energized at 60 volts would be
120 milliamperes. This level of current, either ac or dc, is sufficient to cause
serious injury.
Low voltage - 600 Volts or Less
The table below summarizes what usually happens for a range of currents
with a duration of one second at typical household voltages. Longer exposure
times increase the danger to the shock victim. For example, a current of 100
mA applied for 3 seconds is as dangerous as a current of 900 mA applied for a
fraction of a second (0.03 seconds).

Effects of Electrical Current Less Than 600 Volts on the Body

Current Reaction
1 milliamp Just a faint tingle.
5 milliamps Slight shock felt. Disturbing, but not
painful. Most people can "let go."
However, strong involuntary
movements can cause injuries.
6-25 milliamps (women)† Painful shock. Muscular control is lost.
This is the range where "freezing
9-30 milliamps (men)

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currents" start. It may not be possible

to "let go."
50-150 milliamps Extremely painful shock, respiratory
arrest (breathing stops), severe
muscle contractions. Flexor muscles
may cause holding on; extensor
muscles may cause intense pushing
away. Heart fibrillation possible.
Death is possible.
1-4.3 amps
Rhythmic pumping action of the heart
ceases. Muscular contraction and
nerve damage occur; death likely.

10 amps Cardiac arrest and severe burns occur.

Death is probable.
15 amps Lowest overcurrent at which a typical
fuse or circuit breaker opens a circuit!

High Voltage - Over 600 Volts

OSHA classifies any use of
electrical service over 600 volts as high
voltage.
Sometimes high voltages lead to
additional injuries. High voltages can
cause violent muscular contractions.
You may lose your balance and fall,
which can cause injury or even death if
you fall into machinery that can crush
you. High voltages can also cause
severe burns due to arc flash.
At 600 volts, the current through
the body may be as great as 4 amps,
causing damage to internal organs such
as the heart. High voltages also produce burns. In addition, internal blood
vessels may clot. Nerves in the area of the contact point may be damaged.
Muscle contractions may cause bone fractures from either the contractions
themselves or from falls.

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Current
The amount of internal current a person can withstand and still be able
to control the muscles of the arm and hand can be less than 10 milliamperes
(milliamps or mA).
Currents above 10 mA can paralyze or "freeze" muscles. When this
"freezing" happens, a person is no longer able to release a tool, wire, or other
object. In fact, the electrified object may be held even more tightly, resulting
in longer exposure to the shocking current. For this reason, hand-held tools
that give a shock can be very dangerous.
If you can't let go of the tool, current continues through your body for
a longer time, which can lead to respiratory paralysis (the muscles that
control breathing cannot move). You stop breathing for a period of time.
People have stopped breathing when shocked with currents from
voltages as low as 49 volts. Usually, it takes about 30 mA of current to cause
respiratory paralysis.
Currents greater than 75 mA may cause ventricular fibrillation (very
rapid, ineffective heartbeat). This condition will cause death within a few
minutes unless a special device called a defibrillator is used to save the
victim.
Heart paralysis occurs at 4 amps, which means the heart does not pump
at all. Tissue is burned with currents greater than 5 amps.

Factors that Determine Current Levels

The severity of an electrical shock in the body is determined by several factors
that influence the amount of current and the duration of exposure. These
factors include:
• Voltage. Greater voltages produce greater currents.
• Resistance. Resistance hinders current. The lower the resistance (or
impedance in AC circuits), the greater the level of current.
• Body type. Muscle structure also makes a difference. People with less
muscle tissue are typically affected at lower current levels. Even
• Duration. If the shock is short in duration, it may only be painful. A
longer shock (lasting a few seconds) could be fatal if the level of
current is high enough to cause the heart to go into ventricular
fibrillation. Duration is important when you realize that a small power
drill uses 30 times as much current required to cause death. However,
if the shock is of short duration and the heart has not been damaged,
a normal heartbeat may resume after contact with the electrical is
eliminated. (This type of recovery is rare.)

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• Moisture. Dry skin may have a resistance of 100,000 ohms or more.

Wet skin may have a resistance of only 1,000 ohms. Wet working
conditions or broken skin will drastically reduce resistance. The low
resistance of wet skin allows current to pass into the body more easily
and give a greater shock.
• Force. When more force is applied to the contact point or when the
contact area is larger, the resistance is lower, causing stronger shocks.

Learning Activity

A worker was attempting to correct an electrical problem involving two

non-operational lamps. He examined the circuit in the area where he thought
the problem was located. He had not shut off the power at the circuit breaker
panel and did not test the wires to see if they were live. He was electrocuted
when he grabbed the two live wires with his left hand. He collapsed to the
floor and was found dead.
What procedures should have been put in place to prevent this accident?

EEPC101 Module II