Electrical Shock Sequela

Abstract

Electric Shock Hazard: “A source of possible injury or damage to health associated with current flow through the human body caused by contact with or approach to exposed energized electrical conductors or circuit parts. Note: Potential severity of injury and damage to health resulting from shock is dependent on the magnitude of the electrical current, the power source frequency (e.g., 60hz, 50hz, dc) and the path and time duration of current through the body. The physiological reaction ranges from perception, muscular contraction, inability to let go, ventricular fibrillation, tissue burns and death.” <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">1,2</sup> Historically, an electrical injury was considered a form of thermal burn injury mediated by Joule Heating. However, over the past twenty years, medical research has revealed that this is just one component of a complex multi-system injury. Electrical trauma produces a pattern of injury that depends on three main factors: the intensity and frequency of the current, the anatomical path that the current takes through the body, and the duration of current exposure. Sequela: “A morbid condition following or occurring as a consequence of another condition or event.” Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing and Allied Health, 7th Edition, 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. “A sequela. Any condition or state that follows a disease, disorder, or injury, especially one that is a consequence of it. A complication. The term most often used is the plural form, sequelae.” Collins Dictionary of Medicine, Robert M. Youngson, 2004–2005. Electrical Shock Versus Electrocution: Electrocution e·lec·tro·cu·tion (e-lek'tro-kyu'shun), Death caused by electricity. See: electrocute. Synonym(s): electrothanasia Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012 Electric Shock “The sum of immediate and delayed pathophysiologic responses of living tissue to a current of electricity of sufficient magnitude to induce abnormal sensations (for example, paresthesia, pain) or objective changes (for example, muscle spasm, cardiac arrhythmia, neurologic impairment including coma, tissue damage).” Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012 The electric shock hazard has existed since electricity was invented. The short-term effects for low voltage electric shocks were not visible and workers did not report short term duration (momentary inadvertent contact) electric shocks. For high voltages the electric shock hazard had a significant high probability of immediate electrocution. The electrical shock hazard has been neglected, has been accepted as “part of the job” for electrical workers, historical training instructed the use of the human body as a voltage detector for low voltages <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">5</sup> and to date has not been effectively eliminated in the workplace not only for electrical workers, but also non-electrical workers. Historically electrical workers and non-electrical workers have not reported low voltage shocks. The electric shock hazard is an invisible injury, there is currently no medical scan or test that can detect that the electrical injury has occurred, most patients assessed achieve an inconclusive diagnosis. There are long term consequences from an initial electric shock hazard exposure where electrical current flowed into the human body that electrical workers and non-electrical workers have not been made aware of in the workplace and in electrical safety training received. This is electrical shock sequela. John Knoll is suffering from sequelae related to receiving multiple low voltage electrical shocks while working as an apprentice and journeyperson electrician. Electrical workers need to be made aware that they may be suffering from sequela due to electric shock exposure. Industry needs to change the narrative from a focus on arc flash to a focus on the electrical shock hazard.