Ever wonder how electrical safety standards were developed? It’s study time!
Everyone,
Here’s the study on the effects of electric shock on humans by Charles F. Dalziel from 1961 which helped lead to the development of electrical grounding codes and GFCI protection.
Remember, this was during a time when most electrical devices such as radios, television sets and guitar amplifiers were not grounded at all, and it was customary to feel a shock when touching anything plugged into an electrical outlet. This study has contributed to grounding improvements in the National Electrical Code and saved countless lives. It’s a fascinating report about experimenting with electric shock levels on human volunteers. Ouch!
You can download the entire 41 page study below and pages 24 to 30 show the actual test procedures. It’s a pretty deep read but fascinating.
Let’s play safe out there…. Mike
Very interesting.
“…it is essential that the user NOT receive a shock sensation when using …wedding presents…”
The study also mentions surgical safety, but does not mention Dr. Louise Robinovich, an early 20th century pioneer of medical uses of electricity, and who championed the cause of electricity as an anaesthetic, as well as a means of resuscitation.
I assume these same concepts of electrical safety apply to mobile health and dental clinics and ambulances.
Now I wish I had a NCVT in my pocket 60 years ago when, on the farm, my father would instruct me to open the gate on the electric fence while he drove through.
Ditto! VERY interesting! As one who deals with patients in ventricular fibrillation on a fairly (unfortunately) regular basis, intriguing to see the study and results! Thanks for sharing!
I remember seeing an illustration of a large man holding pliers in each hand to complete a circuit with a light bulb. I don’t remember if it was a picture or video, though. My Dad was an electrical engineer and we built a 4H display project showing the dangers of ungrounded power tools. The man illustration in the large lit box was named “Joe Blowfuse”