Electrical Shock in the R&D Laboratory

Due to the nature of research, the risk of electric shock is greater in an R&D laboratory than most other work environments.

Immediate effects of shock are often confusion and memory loss.

• Sometimes, a person who has received a shock may not be able to judge its seriousness and can injure themselves further.
  
  
• Vision and motor coordination between hands and eyes may also be affected.
  
  
• Additional serious long term and delayed affects of shock, including ventricular fibrillation (which can lead to heart attack), can occur up to 72 hours after the shock.
  
  
• Sometimes injury and damage will not immediately manifest itself to the victim. In some cases heart irregularities and breathing stoppage can occur some time later.

For these reasons, electrical shock victims should not be left alone and must be accompanied to Medical immediately. If you are the victim, find someone to accompany you.

Possible outcomes of electric shock accidents:

• Shock and recovery (obviously the preferred outcome)
  
  
• Survival and permanent damage, e.g., scarring, or muscle damage;
  
  
• Death from heart stoppage despite CPR;
  
  
• Delayed death from heart damage;
  
  
• Delayed death from severe third-degree external burns;
  
  
• Death from internal burns and organ damage;
  
  
• Injury from falls and from severe muscle reaction; and
  
  
• Eye and ear damage from intense arc flash.

It is very important to report all electrical shocks.

The situation leading to the shock will be corrected only if reported. The shock may be fatal for the next person under the same circumstances.

Typical sources of electric shock in the research laboratory:

• power supplies
• capacitors
• instrumentation and controls
• pulsed power transients
• conductors and connectors
• power tools

Case Study Causes of Past Electric Shock Events

• Hardware
  
  
  • Dielectric failure
  • Inadequate drawings and schematics
  • Improper wiring of plugs and outlets
  • Improper grounds
  • Poor inspection, inadequate maintenance
  
  
  

• Procedure
  
  
  • Rushed or distracted personnel
  • Inadequate training
  • Failure to verify equipment was off
  • Failure to follow existing safety procedure
  • Feeling comfortable with work abilities

These steps form the basis of shock rescue:

Learn, prior to accidents, how to disconnect power to potential hazards. Unplugging power sources, turning electrical switches to the off position, and turning off circuits breakers are the most efficient means of trying to de-energize the circuit.

Show movie: What Do We Do? (es07.rm)
             es07.rm.sit.hqx      es07.rm.zip

Know the locations of all emergency power-off buttons within your labs.
(Click picture to enlarge.)

Step 2: Protect yourself and call 911 for help.

Step 3: Try to separate the person from the energy source.

If you can't de-energize the circuit, try to separate the person from the energy source. Use a non conductive means, such as a wooden broom handle, dry plastic rope, or leather belt to pull or push the person out of contact with the energy source. NEVER GRAB OR TOUCH THE PERSON! You might become part of the circuit and become injured as well.

Step 4: Administer first aid.

In most electrical accidents, time is a significant factor in the application of medical assistance. CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and basic first aid training should be considered for any person working on or near live, energized parts.

Show movie: Timely Medical Response (01.rm)
                             01.rm.sit.hqx      01.rm.zip

Step 5: Have the person receive professional medical attention.

The negative effects of electric shock on the body can occur hours or even days after the initial exposure. Professional medical attention should be sought immediately in order to monitor such shock effects as heart fibrillation. Even of the person feels OK, someone shall take them to medical. Do not let them go alone.