Professional paper
https://doi.org/10.31306/s.59.3.6
Workplace accidents caused by electric shock
Nenad Papić
orcid.org/0000-0002-8104-6531
; Centar za forenzična ispitivanja, istraživanja i vještačenja „Ivan Vučetić“, MUP RH, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Abstract
Even though electric shocks are not common causes of accidents and deaths, when they do happen they are investigated by electrical engineering experts and doctors or pathologists. An electrical engineering expert examines the accident scene, determines the circumstances of the accident, finds evidence and proceeds to identify the electrical installation or device malfunction that could have caused the electric shock. A medical doctor examines the person who has suffered an electric shock, drawing conclusions on the cause of injury based on body marks and additional examinations. In case of death, a pathologist gives his report on the cause of death based on the autopsy.
This paper describes the methods used by electrical engineering experts to determine the technical functionality of electrical installations and equipment in order to find defects that could lead to electric shock. Several real-life examples from electrical experts’ experience are presented in the paper describing defects caused by low voltage and high voltage electric shocks.
In conclusion, an analysis of the reviewed examples is offered identifying the possible causes of these electric shock workplace accidents.
Keywords
accidents; electric shock; forensic analysis; electrical engineering; forensic medicine
Hrčak ID:
187221
URI
Publication date:
5.10.2017.
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