Common Causes of Electrical Accidents

Shocks in the R&D laboratory can result from a very wide diversity of situations, applications, and systems.Some of the more common hardware sources of shock include:

• Power supplies
• Capacitors
• Instrumentation and controls
• Pulsed power transients (in ground conductors, etc.)
• Conductors, connectors, and cables
• Power tools
• Some causes of shocks can be directly attributed to the hardware:
• Inadequate drawings and schematics
• Improper wiring of plugs and outlets
• Improper grounds
• Poor inspection and inadequate maintenance
• Other causes are directly attributable to lack of proper procedure:
• Rushed or distracted personnel
• Inadequate training
• Failure to verify equipment was off
• Failure to follow existing safety procedures

Despite the circumstances leading up to an electrical incident, proper prevention involves safe design, proper procedures, and adequate training.