Electrical Burns
Common Injury
The most common shock-related, nonfatal injury is a burn. Burns caused by electricity may be of three types:
- Electrical burns. Electrical burns can result when a person touches electrical wiring or equipment that is used or maintained improperly. Typically, such burns occur on the hands. Electrical burns are one of the most serious injuries you can receive. They need to be given immediate attention. Additionally, clothing may catch fire and a thermal burn may result from the heat of the fire.
Arcing can burn and cause a hot powerful arc blast.
- Burns from arcing and arc blasts. Arcing is the luminous electrical discharge that occurs when high voltage exists across a gap between conductors and current travels through the air. An arc blast, on the other hand, occurs when an electrical arc creates a rapid expansion of plasma and gas that creates a powerful pressure wave that can burn. Temperatures as high as 35,000°F have been reached in arc-blasts.
- Thermal contact burns. Thermal burns may result if an explosion occurs when electricity ignites an explosive mixture of material in the air. This ignition can result from the buildup of combustible vapors, gases, or dusts. OSHA standards, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards, and other safety standards give precise safety requirements for the operation of electrical systems and equipment in such dangerous areas. Ignition can also be caused by overheated conductors or equipment, or by normal arcing at switch contacts or in circuit breakers.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
3-1. What is defined as the luminous electrical discharge that occurs when high voltages exist across a gap between conductors and current travels through the air?
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