Electricity is undoubtedly a mind-boggling and an awe-inspiring gift of nature to humankind. We can make use it for our own benefits to give the world power, make things move and make everything shine brighter even at night. However, this very gift from nature can certainly be deadly when taken care of improperly.
Working with and being around electrical equipment can be extremely hazardous in some cases. Because of this, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has carried out safety guidelines, especially for industrial plants, offices, construction sites and even homes. However, despite such rules, electrocutions and other connected accidents continue to occur without warning.
The quantity of American workers who got fatally electrocuted while doing work-related activities has continued to rise over the years. In accordance with the data of Occupational Safety and Health Database, electrical burns account for almost all of burn injuries, comprising 45% of all burn injury cases, while contact with power lines accounts for about 20 % of fatal electrocutions and is the second reason behing death among construction workers. Electricians, plant and equipment operators, mechanics and electrical line workers, in spite of despite their observance of safety standards, become victims of freak, electricity-related accidents.
Electrocution is a condition in which an electric current flows through a human body. The severity of the damage depends on the type and voltage of the circuit, the duration of exposure, the pathway through the body (the entry and exit points and the body's resistance to the flow of current.) Prognosis is also dependent on the mentioned elements, plus the promptness and kind of medical intervention rendered. The absence of immediate medical help aggravates the prevailing condition as electric currents may run through the most essential internal organ which can shut down within a second - the heart. Prognosis is poor as some even die on the spot or within seconds of electrocution, as soon as electricity runs through the heart.
How come accidents as avoidable as electrocution occur? Accidents do happen at inopportune times, and they continue to happen because of lapses in the observance of safety standards. One has forgotten to turn off the main electrical source, electrical equipment has been left turned on for an extended period of time, resulting to overheating, electrical wiring has been exposed, electrical equipment users have failed to read or follow manuals regarding proper operation of the device, or have been over confident due to familiarity - all of these are familiar scenarios behind electrocutions.
Another factor that could play a part in these accidents is lack of training and education of people involved. Plenty of workers are not made aware of the existence of potential electrical risks in their work environment which make them more susceptible to electrocution compared to others. This is the accountability of employers to execute safety drills and training so that even employees who have the least to do with electrical equipment are able to protect themselves.
Author Resource:-
Do not let a typical day end up tragically with co-workers suffering from hazardous electrical contact. It's good to learn about electrical contacts, how they happen and what to do when they happen to a coworker or even yourself, even before any of these scenarios set in. This knowledge can save you and everyone else who may be involved.
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.fyifiles.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
