Electrical Shock Hazard

A person's body can complete a circuit and receive an electrical shock under a variety of circumstances. Electrical shock can occur when a live wire touches an electrical ground or the other wire of an electrical circuit. It can occur when a tool touches an electrical component and becomes energized, conducting the electricity to the person holding it.

Electricity can be conducted to a person when something they are carrying or standing on, such as a metal ladder or scaffold, becomes energized. This is a common source of electrical shock deaths.

Often, in an electrical shock, the individual will be unable to let go of the object that is causing the shock. The muscles in the hands and arms contract, freeze, and tighten while holding an electrified object, and, as a result, the person experiences a longer exposure to the current.

It is important to note, though, that an electrical shock may also occur from attempting to move a person who is receiving the electrical shock. Electrocution statistics include many cases of multiple deaths in a single accident for this reason. Never touch a person who is receiving an electrical shock. Always de-energize the electrical component first.

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