Electrical Hazards - High Voltage Electrical Burns More than 1000 employees are killed and another 30,000 injured each year from electrical shock. Hands are frequently involved in an electrical injury since they are the most common source of contact with the electrical current. However, damage to other parts of the body may be more extensive and life-threatening. Severe electric shock can result in cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation, massive fluid loss into swollen tissues, and kidney failure caused by an overload of muscle protein from damaged muscle and infections. Electrical injuries are often more severe than they appear to be from...

Avoiding Electrical Shock Electrical shock hazards can be found in all industries. Avoiding electrical shocks both at home and at work requires awareness of the hazards and respect for this "Silent Killer." The human body has a low resistance to electricity, making it a good conductor, like most metals. Unlike metals, however, the human body does not respond well when electricity passes through it. Physical results include thermal burns, disruption of normal heart activity, severe muscle contractions, and even death. The most common and serious electrical injuries occur when electrical current flows between the hands and feet. This happens when a person...