Electric Current is something that exists in the world around us, and many of us use it on a day-to-day basis. Not only does it exist naturally, but it also is channeled for industrial purposes as well. OSHA considers working around Electric Current to be one of the most dangerous occupations. And for a good reason. There are an estimated 30,000 nonfatal accidents involving electric current each year. Plus, 600 individuals die because of electrical accidents in the United States every year.

Using the path of least resistance, electric current always moves from one point to another. One of the conductive substances that produce the least amount of resistance is water. In the meantime, most of the human body contains water. If the human body were 100% water, electric current could flow through it without a problem. It does encounter resistance if it is traveling through the body. As it encounters resistance, the electrical current transfers to heat. That heat causes one of the primary issues with electrical accidents: burns.

Electric current acts like the natural signals transferred between our nerves in the body. Even at a low level, the voltage causes muscle contractions. As a result, grabbing something energized is easy, but letting go is much harder.

Risk Involved with Electric Current

Thinking that lower voltage reduces the risk of electricity is a common misconception. The fact is that muscle contractions caused by contact with low-voltage can also cause additional issues, such as falling off a ladder or other types of injuries.

Electrical Shocks

Many factors come into play when it comes to how you are affected by an electrical shock. When shocked, one thing is certain; you become a part of the electrical circuit. You may sustain an injury, depending on some factors. Those factors include the amount of current flowing through the body; how long the body is inside of the circuit; and the path that the current takes through the body.

Low-level shocks, such as exposure to 1 Milliamperes (mA), may result in a slight tingling or it could be in perceivable. Because of this, you may feel a mild shock at 5mA, but from 6mA up to 16mA, the shock is painful and could result in muscle contractions. At 17mA up to 100mA, extreme pain, muscular contractions, and respiratory arrest can occur. From 100mA up to 2000mA, ventricular fibrillation is possible. A shock above 2000mA could result in damage to the internal organs, severe burns, and cardiac arrest.

The bottom line is to respect electricity. If you often work around it, be aware of the dangers and take the necessary precautions.

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