Electrical Industry Canada: Arc Flash, Shock Hazard, & Fire Safety - 9

the last few months of my fourth period in the Union. "
I think John's comments about working on energized conductors and
circuit parts was and is still the norm in the industry. Yes there have been
changes in the last decade in Canada with the CSA Z462 Workplace
electrical safety Standard published, but the focus unfortunately has been
on arc flash and not shock.
The bottom line is Apprentice Electricians and Journeyman Electricians
have been shocked as a normal condition of doing their jobs with a
complete lack of awareness of the potential long term effects by receiving
multiple low voltage shocks throughout their careers.
The American
Electrician's Handbook from 1942 to 1960 taught electricians that the
human body could be used to detect voltages up to 250VAC by touching
with the hands or for low voltages using your mouth to " taste " electricity.
In John's case he was experiencing psychological, neurological and
physical symptoms that he did not know where potentially attributed to
receiving multiple low voltage shocks throughout his career as an
Apprentice and Journeyman Electrician. When I interviewed John and he
discussed his injuries it was unbelievable, but based on information that I
had over 10 years ago - published by Dr. Joel Fish, who at the time was
practicing as the St Johns Rehab Centre in Ontario - the long term sequelae
of electric shock are real. What changed John's perception of shock and
his sequelae was when he told me he was shocked at 347VAC, he said
that shock was different, " I was held and could not let go, I knew I was
going to die and had no control of my body. I was saved by gravity when I
fell off my ladder. I thought I was dying, the pain was unbelievable as I lost
the ability to breath " and at that point, John said, " I had a newfound
respect and fear of electricity. "
John moved on in his career and had his own company from 2010 until
he could no longer work due to escalation in his symptoms aſter the
shocks he received throughout his career.
He believes he started
experiencing symptoms as early as 2 years into the trade and began
seeking chiropractic and massage care more oſten. A known relief of
nerve pain that is caused by the long term sequelae of electric shock. In
2016 his life started to change rapidly and looking back now he knows that
ELECTRICAL INDUS TRY CANADA
the multiple electrical shocks he received led to his deterioration in mental
and physical health, his personal life was directly impacted, becoming
divorced from his wife and issues with his friend and business partner.
Why was John shocked at work? His comments align with the results of a
recent shock research project completed by Technical Safety British Columbia
(TSBC). In February 2019, the TSBC published a report related to the shock
hazard in BC " Negotiating Safety - Understanding the Behavioral and
Sociocultural Factors Related to Electric Shock. " The report was based on
interviews and surveys completed and quoted reasons why electricians have
worked and continue to work energized
as:
Societal, Sectoral,
Organizational, Interpersonal and for Individual reasons. The report
concluded that poor training, poor work practices, complacency, not refusing
to work energized, " I thought someone else had turned off the power, " or
peer pressure (e.g. loss of job, keep boss happy, rebuked by other workers)
influenced why working energized was never questioned.
I believe John's story is not an isolated case. I believe there are hundreds,
potentially tens of thousands of Journeyman Electrician's in Canada, the USA,
and Internationally that have long term sequelae and have not correlated
them to receiving multiple low voltage shocks throughout their career. The
personal mental and physical health issues, impact on family and the potential
impact on continuing in the trade and potential financial impacts are
significant. If you are a Journeyman Electrician and are experiencing
symptoms listed in this article, they are most likely attributed to you receiving
multiple low voltage electric shocks while working.
A big shout out and thank you to John Knoll for telling me his story,
his drive, entrepreneurial spirit, his candor and sharing his emotions.
References:
1. " Long-term sequelae of electrical injury. " Dr. Marni L. Wesner, MD MA FCFP DipSportMed, and Dr. John Hickie,
MD, MSc, CCFP CCBOM. Canadian Family Physician, CFP-MFC Official Publication of The College of Family
Physicians of Canada, September, 2013. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3771718/.
2.Biophsical Injury Mechanisms in Electrical Shock Trauma. Raphael C. Lee, Dajun Zhang and Jurgen Hanning.
Annu. Rev. Biomed. Eng. 2000:2:477-509.
3. American Electrician's Handbook, Tyrell Croſt Consulting Engineers. Clifford C. Carr, E.E., P.E., Fiſth Edition,
McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., 1942. " Measuring, Testing and Instruments, 158. Electricians oſten test circuits
for the presence of voltage by touching the conductors with the fingers. 159. The presence of low voltages can be
determined with tasting, "
4. Technical Safety British Columbia (TSBC) Electric Shock.
https://www.technicalsafetybc.ca/State-of-Safety-2018/safety-stories/electric-shock
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 6
9
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3771718/ https://www.technicalsafetybc.ca/State-of-Safety-2018/safety-stories/electric-shock

Electrical Industry Canada: Arc Flash, Shock Hazard, & Fire Safety

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Electrical Industry Canada: Arc Flash, Shock Hazard, & Fire Safety

Electrical Industry Canada: Arc Flash, Shock Hazard, & Fire Safety - 1
Electrical Industry Canada: Arc Flash, Shock Hazard, & Fire Safety - 2
Electrical Industry Canada: Arc Flash, Shock Hazard, & Fire Safety - 3
Electrical Industry Canada: Arc Flash, Shock Hazard, & Fire Safety - 4
Electrical Industry Canada: Arc Flash, Shock Hazard, & Fire Safety - 5
Electrical Industry Canada: Arc Flash, Shock Hazard, & Fire Safety - 6
Electrical Industry Canada: Arc Flash, Shock Hazard, & Fire Safety - 7
Electrical Industry Canada: Arc Flash, Shock Hazard, & Fire Safety - 8
Electrical Industry Canada: Arc Flash, Shock Hazard, & Fire Safety - 9
Electrical Industry Canada: Arc Flash, Shock Hazard, & Fire Safety - 10
Electrical Industry Canada: Arc Flash, Shock Hazard, & Fire Safety - 11
Electrical Industry Canada: Arc Flash, Shock Hazard, & Fire Safety - 12
Electrical Industry Canada: Arc Flash, Shock Hazard, & Fire Safety - 13
Electrical Industry Canada: Arc Flash, Shock Hazard, & Fire Safety - 14
Electrical Industry Canada: Arc Flash, Shock Hazard, & Fire Safety - 15
Electrical Industry Canada: Arc Flash, Shock Hazard, & Fire Safety - 16
Electrical Industry Canada: Arc Flash, Shock Hazard, & Fire Safety - 17
Electrical Industry Canada: Arc Flash, Shock Hazard, & Fire Safety - 18
Electrical Industry Canada: Arc Flash, Shock Hazard, & Fire Safety - 19
Electrical Industry Canada: Arc Flash, Shock Hazard, & Fire Safety - 20
Electrical Industry Canada: Arc Flash, Shock Hazard, & Fire Safety - 21
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com