Electric shock injury

The majority of electric shock injuries occur when the body acts as conductor between line and earth. A general level of protection against such shocks is provided by the inclusion of a current sensitive earth leakage circuit breaker in the supply line. A typical example is shown in Figure 28.2. 

If you were to take a look at the annual on-the-job injury statistics for all employers in the United States, you would quickly notice that many of these injuries are typically the result of electrical shock, injuries received during electrical fires, or injuries received when some electrical component fails due to faulty installation, faulty maintenance conducted on electrical equipment, or equipment malfunction caused by manufacturer errors. 

Acute and chronic health problems caused by the use or release of hazardous substances. Injuries to employees and members of the public due to equipment failure such as electric shock. Injuries to employees and members of the public from slips, trips and tails. 

Electric burns, and electric shock combined with burns, account for most of the work-related reported electrical accidents. Electric shocks on their own, although very common occurrences, are infrequently notified to the enforcement authorities. This is because an electric shock injury only needs to be reported if it results in death or unconsciousness, or in the injured person being detained in hospital for 24 hours or longer, or in the person... 

It can be assumed that the numbers for fatal accidents will be accurate because the HSE learns about all workplace deaths, but those for non-fatal injuries will seriously underestimate the actual number of workplace injuries because of endemic underreporting. Many employers and self-employed people are reluctant to report injuries to the HSE, despite the fact that not to do so is a breach of the Reporting of Injuries and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995. Another influencing factor is that the Regulations only require to be reported those electric shock injuries that lead to unconsciousness or require resuscitation or admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours very many electric shock incidents do not fall within those categories. Otherwise, electrical injuries must be reported if they lead to ... 

Section 11.7 recommends that temporary decorative loads such as Christmas tree lights should be supplied at SELV. In some cases, this compromises the attractiveness of the decorations and there is a temptation to supply them at 240 V to achieve the desired brilliance and luminance. In that case, if the lighting fixtures can be accessed by the public, there will be a need to provide RCD protection to minimise the risk of electric shock injuries, although the potential problems arising from nuisance tripping will need to be considered. 

This list of common elements consciously and conspicuously omits the did not follow safety mles excuse that is seen in some accident reports beeause this excuse is not the real accident cause. If someone did not follow safety rules, there are underlying reasons. The critical point in accident investigation is why the safety rules were not followed. The common elements can provide a ftamework for considering the causes of an electrical shock, injury or contact, and provide a starting point for removing the causes and preventing future electrical accidents. 

Electric shock and bums can also lead to injury. Burns can occur touching hot surfaces. They can also occur from radiation. 

It then came to light that the handrails were covered with plastic and that anyone using them and wearing insulating footwear acquired an electric charge. When he touched the metal of the plant, he got a mild electric shock. The spark, of course, was not serious enough to cause any injury. But it was unpleasant. People therefore tended not to use the handrails. 

Products manufactured using concepts in UL Standard 746D provide quick verification of material identification, along with the assurance that acceptable blending or simple compounding operations are used that would not increase the risk of fire, electrical shock, or personal injury. 

Petroleum and chemical related hazards can arise from the presence of combustible or toxic liquids, gases, mist, or dust in the work environment. Common physical hazards include ambient heat, bums, noise, vibration, sudden pressure changes, radiation, and electric shock. Various external sources, such as chemical, biological, or physical hazards, can cause work related injuries or fatalities. Although all of these hazards are of concern this book primarily concentrates on fire and explosions hazards that can cause catastrophic events. 

Neurology recognizes that relatively minor head trauma—even without the delirium, loss of consciousness, and seizures associated with ECT— frequently produces chronic mental dysfunction and personality deterioration (Bernat et al., 1987). If a woman came to an emergency room in a confusional state from an accidental electrical shock to the head, perhaps from a short circuit in her kitchen, she would be treated as an acute medical emergency. If the electrical trauma had caused a convulsion, she might be placed on anticonvulsants to prevent a recurrence of seizures. If she developed a headache, stiff neck, and nausea—a triad of symptoms typical of post-ECT patients—she would probably be admitted for observation to the intensive care unit. Yet ECT delivers the same electrical closed-head injury, repeated several times a week, as an alleged means of improving mental function. ECT is electrically induced closed-head injury. 

Report any fire, electrical shock, glassware breakage, spill, or injury, no matter how small, to your teacher immediately. Follow his or her instructions. 

The operator of x-ray apparatus is exposed to two obvious dangers, electric shock and radiation injury, but both of these hazards can be reduced to negligible proportions by proper design of equipment and reasonable care on the part of the user. Nevertheless, it is only prudent for the x-ray worker to be continually aware of these hazards. 

Muscle cells which arc damaged will leak creatine kina.se into the plasma. This enzyme exists in different isoforms. CK-MM or total CK is used as an index of skeletal mu.scle damage. Very high serum levels may be expected in patients who have been convulsing or have muscular damage due to electrical shock or crush injury. Creatine kinase concentrations may also be high in acute spells in muscular dystrophy. For these rea.sons, when CK is used as an indicator of myocardial infarction. it is better to measure the MB... 

Large heavy batteries can consist of many cells with high cumulative voltages. This naturally increases the risks of electric shock and crushing injuries. 

One remaining barrier to significant injury, electric shock (>50 volts AC), radiation exposure (one event >1000 mr uptake, intake or Committed Effective Dose Equivalent [CEDE]) or Industrial Hygience Exposure (>3 times OSHA limits), exceed criticality limit or double contingency is not maintained... 

Lee, R.C., Despa, R, 2005. Distinguishing electroporation from thermal injuries in electrical shock by MR imaging. In Engineering in Medicine and Biology 27th Annual Conference. IEEE, Shanghai, China. 

Lee, R.C., Zhang, D., Hannig, J., 2000. Biophysical injury mechanisms in electrical shock trauma. In ... 

Electric shock occurs when a person becomes part of the electrical circuit, as shown in Fig. 1.30. The level or intensity of the shock will depend upon many factors, such as age, fitness and the circumstances in which the shock is received. The lethal level is approximately 50 mA, above which muscles contract, the heart flutters and breathing stops. A shock above the 50 mA level is therefore fatal unless the person is quickly separated from the supply. Below 50mA only an unpleasant tingling sensation may be experienced or you may be thrown across a room or fall from a roof or ladder, but the resulting fall may lead to serious injury. 

It is estimated that office workers sustain 76,000 fractures, dislocations, sprains, strains, and contusions each year. In office areas, trips and falls are the number one cause of injury. Office workers are also injured as a result of foreign substances in the eye, spilled hot liquids, burns from fire, and electric shock. The office may also contain hazards such as poor lighting, noise, poorly designed furniture and equipment, and machines that emit noxious gases and fumes. Even the nature of office work itself has produced a whole host of stress-related symptoms and musculoskeletal strains. 

Gloves used to protect the hands of individuals from physical injury (cuts, abrasions, temperature extremes, electrical shock, etc.), chemical hazards, biological hazards,... 

Electrical Shock. Personnel injury or fatality due to electric current passing through any portion of the body. Typically caused by contact with energized electric circuit, procedural error, component failures, static discharge, human error, or environmental conditions. Can also degrade equipment operation. 

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