The Body's Reaction to Electricity

It is a well-known fact that the human body will conduct electricity. A current flows any time the body comes into contact with an electrically energized part while simultaneously making contact with another conductive surface, such as metal. Once the current enters the body at one contact point, it will pass through the body and exit at the other contact point, usually the ground.
Several factors affect the severity of electric shock injuries, including the system voltage, the amount of electricity or amperage, the type of current (direct or alternating), and the body's resistance to the current. The path the current takes through the body and the length of time the body remains in contact with the current are also factors.
The body's reaction to electric shock can range from a minor tingling sensation to instant death. Even at levels as low as 3 milli-amperes, current traveling through the body can cause indirect or secondary injuries, including bruising and bone fractures. Keep in mind that a standard domestic earth leakage device (RCD),when functioning correctly, should disconnect the circuit at 15mA-30mA when a fault condition is detected.
Consider how the body reacts when it comes into contact with the following levels of electricity:

• 0.5-3 mA      Tingling sensation 
• 3-10 mA     Muscle contractions and pain
• 10-40 mA      "Let-go" threshold
• 30-75 mA      Respiratory paralysis
• 100-200 mA      Ventricular fibrillation
• 200-500 mA      Heart clamps tight
• 1500+ mA      Tissue and organs start to burn

To put these levels of exposure into perspective, the voltage levels for equipment and power sources present in various installations follow:

• 220V – 240V    Standard domestic installation - sockets, light switches, appliances, heaters,
• small machinery, drill presses etc
• 380V – 440V      Large domestic, commercial and industrial installation - Heavy-duty machinery,
• appliances, equipment etc
• 525V -6600V     Mining and industrial installations - machinery, substations, transformers etc
• 11000-22000V       Incoming feed from the power company 

How can I prevent electric shock
1. The best thing to do is to leave the electrical work to the experts! Registered electricians are dedicated professionals who specialize in their field and study for years. They are qualified to handle electricity and all electrical problems safely and successfully.
2. Ensure that you have a valid certificate of compliance for your electrical and electric fence installation.
3. Regularly test your earth leakage to ensure that it is working correctly
Dan Electrical Contractors specialise in peace of mind. We are registered Master Electricians and can test your electrical or electric fence installation to identify hazards and faulty components before you become part of the statistics.
Contact us today at 012 997 2737 or sales@danelectrical.co.za
www.danelectrical.co.za