ELECTRICAL SAFETY ELECTRICAL SAFETY ELECTRICAL SAFETY

ELECTRICAL SAFETY September 28, 2014 Leo Koppel (QSET) This talk is for your awareness. It is not required, nor does it certify or qualify you to do anything.

SHOCK “High voltage is dangerous” “Voltage isn’t dangerous, current is” ?

SHOCK Depends on Current Pathway through body Nature of electrical source Duration (and voltage) Los Angeles Times. Jun 29, 1902

Body becomes part of circuit Danger from –Burns –Cardiac arrest / filbrilation –Fractures / trauma from secondary falling down T. Lanzisero. Electric Shock Hazards - Risk Assessment and Safety Management (2012)

CURRENT Current Level (AC 60 Hz) Effect 1 mA Sensation that shock is occurring 5 mA Upper limit of safe or harmless range 10–20 mA Let-go threshold: flexor muscles are stronger than the extensor muscles; subject cannot shake loose from the shock source; perspiration 30–40 mA Tetany: sustained muscle contraction and cramping 50–70 mA Extreme pain, physical exhaustion, fainting, irreversible nerve damage; possibility of ventricular fibrillation (heart); respiratory arrest with possible asphyxiation 100 mA Ventricular fibrillation (heart) and death if the current passes through the body trunk >100 mA Fibrillation, amnesia, burns, severe electrolysis at contact sites >5 A Little likelihood of survival J.C. Whitaker, The Electronics Handbook 2 nd ed. 2005

AC/DC Bodily effectDCAC 60 HzAC 10 kHz Slight sensation felt at hand(s)Men = 1.0 mA Women = 0.6 mA 0.4 mA 0.3 mA 7 mA 5 mA Threshold of perceptionMen = 5.2 mA Women = 3.5 mA 1.1 mA 0.7 mA 12 mA 8 mA Painful, but voluntary muscle control maintained Men = 62 mA Women = 41 mA 9 mA 6 mA 55 mA 37 mA Painful, unable to let go of wires Men = 76 mA Women = 51 mA 16 mA 10.5 mA 75 mA 50 mA Severe pain, difficulty breathing Men = 90 mA Women = 60 mA 23 mA 15 mA 94 mA 63 mA Possible heart fibrillation after 3 seconds Men = 500 mA Women = 500 mA 100 mA

SHOCK “Let go” current – above this you can’t let go (muscles contract) Interestingly, domestic AC happens to the most dangerous Also body impedance is lower Resistance! Your skin resistance is > 100kOhm dry, but < 1 kOhm wet! C. F. Dalziel, Electric Shock Hazard. IEEE Spectrum (1972)

By the way – I’m not sure why women have a lower threshold; the articles don’t seem to think it’s worth mentioning… This article is from 1972 “So far, it has been impossible to obtain reliable values for children; they just cry at the higher values.” Again, 1972 (Who among us will fill this scientific niche?) C. F. Dalziel, Electric Shock Hazard. IEEE Spectrum (1972)

Electrical Safety Authority Remember it’s not just lethal shocks we want to avoid… Also I’ll throw this in…

SO WHAT TO DO? Working with 24 VDC, our biggest risk is short-circuit -> overheating -> burns or fire. Watch out for leads Turn things off before working on them Don’t wear jewelry / watches when working with power systems

SO WHAT TO DO? Use multimeter correctly Watch out for correct socket Only measure resistance in de- energized circuit Careful not to short out connections with the leads

FUSES Use the right one They protect equipment, not you

FUSES

FIRE

FIRE I can’t train you in fire extinguishing.. But If there’s a fire: warn others! If you’re not confident the fire can be put out pull the alarm and leave. Even if you put it out, report it If something that’s plugged in starts smoking / burning, unplug it first Lithium batteries are hard to put out / will re- ignite.

WEAR THESE When soldering Working with moving parts Using tools

Exception! “It’s only for a second” “My parents have a shop” “I do more dangerous things all the time” Then it’s okay. …if you’re this guy! Just wear them (QSET has some you can borrow)

OTHER TIPS Working with the robot or robotic arm know –Where it could move –How you will turn it off Be aware of what’s on (and don’t forget) Don’t touch a hot iron Don’t try to catch a falling iron Keep workspace tidy Report incidents

GENERAL SAFETY (Leigh Hunter) QSET’s procedures will be posted.

Safety!