Electrical Shock Drowning (ESD)

May 28, 2011 Lake City, MN. A 50 year old man was electrocuted in Lake Pepin near a boat lift which had exposed wiring.

 

His dog was in the water, was shocked, and began to sink. Another man jumped in to rescue the dog but was shocked.  (The man did escape the water). The 50 year old man then jumped in for his dog, and the man appeared to have been electrocuted.

 

With spring coming quicker than the winter weather would lead you to believe, it’s time to start thinking about water safety. I am specifically talking about electrical systems on docks, piers and marinas, splash pads, public pools and let’s not forget fountains and other water features around town.

 

Not all cities have marinas or lakes with docks, but those that do need to really think about how those city features are used and maintained. These precautions can be related to pools, and water features around the city, which both adults and children are using for recreation as well. Just because someone isn’t swimming doesn’t mean they can’t wade, reach, or stand.

 

Electrical Shock Drowning (ESD) occurs in fresh water where minute amounts of AC current are present. As little as a few milliamps can incapacitate a person so they can’t move their muscles. This can occur with as little as 6mA to 16 milliamp (mA) of current. Most victims talk about a tingling in the water as they were swimming. Tingling can be felt with 1mA of current in the water. 6 milliamps will cause agonizing pain which is less than a third of the electricity used to light a 40 watt light bulb. 100 mA passing directly through the heart is almost always fatal. A voltage gradient of 2 volts per foot in fresh water is enough to kill a person who bridges it.    

 

Electric shock drowning can occur anywhere electricity is used near water, but is primarily most prevalent at marinas where boats are docked and plugged-in to shore power. Most cases of ESD occur in fresh water. Salt water has less resistance to electricity and the electrical gradient or difference in potential is very low. Fresh water has a higher resistance to electricity and therefore a higher electrical gradient or difference in potential. It is the difference in potential that makes it more dangerous. The electricity can cause a swimmers muscles to contract. They become immobile, can no longer move or swim, and drown.

 

All electrical circuits in and around water features need to be Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) protected. The wiring and outlets should all be regularly inspected by a licensed electrician who is familiar with the electrical codes as they pertain to marinas and water features. All GFCI, regardless of location, should be tested at least monthly to ensure they are functioning. How about a pool or water feature which has electricity for lighting, electrical outlets, etc.? Those too need to be inspected and part of a preventative maintenance program. I have been at pools where there were swim meets and the teams brought their own timing equipment, extension cords, etc. The timers were plugged into outlets on the light poles around the perimeter of the pool. None of the outlets were GFCI protected, and none of the extension cords were GFCI protected. These could cause an electrical shock issue due to improperly wired equipment, damaged cords coupled with the wet pool deck, high traffic, etc. Given the hazards it is a good idea to regularly inspect all of the docks, boat lifts, marina wiring, pools, fountains, and water features that have electrical features to ensure the people visiting those facilities are protected. In the case of marinas and docks with power to them it is recommended they be posted with no swimming. The boats hooked to the power at the marinas could contribute to the problems as they might have faulty wiring and it is best not to take the chance in that situation.

 

Links: ESD Incidents: http://www.electricshockdrowning.org/uploads/4/8/5/6/48564375/electric_shock_drowning_incident_list_6-28-15.pdf

ESD Facts: http://www.electricshockdrowning.org/esd--faq.html

BoatUS magazine ESD article: http://www.boatus.com/seaworthy/magazine/2013/july/electric-shock-drowning-explained.asp

On a side note: When was the last time you tested your GFCI outlets in and around city buildings? They should be tested monthly to ensure they are functioning.

By: Paul Gladen

 

Is Infrared Thermography Part of your Preventative Maintenance Program?

   Does your city have an IR or infrared electrical survey program as part of your preventative or predictive maintenance program? Better yet, has your city had an electrical survey done at your building in the past 10 years? How about ever? Most facilities have never had an infrared inspection.  According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), in 2011 there were 47,700 structural fires in the U.S. which were caused by some sort of electrical malfunction. Those fires resulted in 418 deaths, 1,570 injuries, and $1.4 billion in property damage.


   Effective use of Infrared thermography surveys of the electrical systems in buildings can detect maintenance issues such as loose connections, overheating circuits and motors, as well as other electrical problems which if left uncorrected could lead to overheating of circuits and components resulting in a fire. At the very least it could cause an electrical short or equipment failure which can lead to downtime and larger maintenance and repair costs.

  
   IR inspections can also be useful in the detection of water intrusion issues, building insulation problems, heat and air loss, and HVAC problems. In mechanical equipment, IR testing can detect over heating bearings, motors, pumps, and switches, as well as problems with the aforementioned electrical connections, components and lines. Some cities have already started to use Infrared thermography as part of the overall preventative maintenance program for their buildings and equipment resulting in reduced overall maintenance costs, as well as a decline in the number of large losses.

   A study by the Federal Energy Management Program estimates that preventative maintenance can save 30%-40% over reactive maintenance. On the other hand, in the event of a catastrophic breakdown or fire, the savings of an effective preventative maintenance program would be much higher when you look at overall added labor, overtime, replacement costs, and downtime cost associated with a large loss.

   If your city decides to incorporate thermography inspections into your preventative maintenance program you will want to have an effective, documented program with established written inspection procedures for measurement and collection, and interpretation of data. You will want to follow the same steps each time to ensure consistent measurements and accurate data points for comparison of readings. Also, you will want to follow any and all safety precautions and procedures where necessary to ensure the inspections are done safely, and don’t subject the person conducting the inspection to unsafe conditions. The inspection program should outline and ensure everyone follows safety procedures and uses appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) where necessary. If hiring an outside service to provide the inspection you want to make sure they follow the above procedures to ensure accurate data and effective results.

By: Paul Gladen, Loss Control Consultant

Stay Visible and Stay Safe

Many of the job tasks LMCIT member employees work on daily involve working in the street right-of-way. This may include pothole filling, crack filling, water main break repair, sewer line maintenance, tree trimming, and the list goes on and on. Working in the street right-of-way requires high-visibility garments like vests, and temporary traffic control devices such as barricades and cones.


Q: Who is required to wear high-visibility clothing?
A: Each employee exposed to or working adjacent to moving motor vehicles as part of the employee’s assigned job shall be provided with and required to wear a high-visibility warning vest or other high-visibility garment, as required by Minnesota Rules 5207.0100. A high-visibility garment is defined as being a Performance Class 2 garment or greater as specified by the American National Standards Institute and International Safety Equipment Association in ANSI/ISEA Standard 107-2004.



Q: When is temporary traffic control needed?
A: Any public or private agency performing work within the right-of-way of streets or highways open to public travel is responsible for supplying, installing, and maintaining all necessary traffic control devices. The specifics are outlined in the Temporary Traffic Control Zone Layouts Field Manual, which is a section of the Minnesota Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.



Q: Where can employees learn how to set up temporary traffic control?
A: The Minnesota Local Technical Assistance Program (MNLTAP) conducts training throughout the state in late winter each year and also offers an online tutorial.
The live training is called “Work-Zone Safety, Temporary Traffic Control, and Flagging.” In this four-hour comprehensive workshop, attendees will learn key elements required for temporary traffic control, safety, and flagging.

The online tutorial, called “Orientation to Work Zone Safety”, addresses many of the hazards inherent in road and street work and how these dangers can be minimized to keep motorists, pedestrians, and employees safe.

 

By: Joe Ingebrand, CSP, LMCIT Senior Loss Control Consultant

Baby, It’s Cold Out There!

Living in Minnesota, our winters are cold.  Those of us that work outdoors need to pay attention to the cold at a greater level than your average person as we may be exposed to cold stress.  When working outdoors in extreme temperatures for extended periods of time, we need to pay attention to our body and potential systems, as well as our co-worker’s.  Extremely cold or wet weather can cause hypothermia or frostbite at a much more rapid pace than we would expect.

 

Hypothermia is when the body uses up its stored energy and can no longer produce heat.  This condition often occurs after prolonged exposure to cold temperatures.  Being aware of the symptoms is necessary when working outdoors during our Minnesota winters. 

 

Early Symptoms:

·         Shivering

·         Fatigue

·         Loss of Coordination

·         Confusion and disorientation

Late Symptoms:

·         No shivering

·         Blue skin

·         Dilated pupils

·         Slowed pulse and breathing

·         Loss of consciousness

First Aid Steps:

·         Request IMMEDIATE medical assistance

·         Move the victim to a warm room, shelter, or vehicle

·         Remove wet clothing

·         Warm the center of the body first –chest, neck, head, and groin – using an electric blanket or use skin-to-skin contact under loose, dry layers of blankets, clothing, or towels

·         If conscious, warm beverages may help increase the body temperature - Do not give alcohol

·         If no pulse, begin CPR

 

 

Frostbite is an injury that is caused by freezing.  Frostbite most often affects the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, or toes.  Again, being aware of the symptoms can save you from permanent injury to your body. 

 

Symptoms:

·         Reduced blood flow to hands and feet

·         Numbness

·         Aching

·         Tingling or stinging

·         Bluish or pale, waxy skin

First Aid Steps:

·         Get into a warm room, shelter, or vehicle immediately

·         Unless necessary, do not walk on frostbitten feet or toes

·         Immerse the affected area(s) in warm (not hot) water, or warm the affected area with body heat.  Do not use a heating pad, fireplace, or radiator for warmth as your sense of heat will be impacted leading to potential for burning.

·         Do not massage the frostbitten area; doing so can cause more damage

Prevention:

·         Monitor your physical condition and that of your co-workers

·         Wear appropriate clothing

o   Wear several layers of loose clothing for insulation; tight clothing reduces blood circulation to the extremities

·         Be aware that some clothing may restrict your movement and result in a hazardous situation

·         Protect the ears, face, hands and feet in extremely cold or wet weather

o   Boots should be waterproof and insulated

o   Wear a hat to reduce the loss of body heat from your head

·         Move into warm locations for breaks; limit the amount of time outside

·         Carry extra socks, gloves, hats, jacket, blankets, change of clothes and thermos of hot liquid

·         Include chemical hot packs in your first aid kits

·         Avoid touching cold metal surfaces with bare skin.

 

While this all may be information you have known since grade school, it is an important reminder that we do not become immune to these conditions as we age. 

 

By: Tara A. Bursey

MN LTAP: Work-Zone Traffic Control Seminars

Improving safety while working next to vehicle traffic requires specific attention. The objectives regarding temporary traffic control zones are first to create a safe work zone for city workers, and second to safely direct traffic.







This seminar provides an overview of basic traffic control procedures for work zones. The latest in traffic control devices and safety devices are presented, including several unique approaches to traffic control and methods for reducing risk and liability.

DATES & LOCATIONS

The workshop is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon at the specified locations on the dates listed below.

• February 18, 2016—City Center Hotel, 101 Main Street, Mankato, MN
• February 23, 2016—Ramada Inn, 1517 16th St. SW, Rochester, MN
• February 25, 2016—Holiday Inn, 75 S. 37th Ave., St. Cloud, MN
• March 3, 2016—DoubleTree Hotel, 2200 Freeway Blvd., Brooklyn Center, MN
• March 10, 2016—Holiday Inn, 20800 Kenrick Ave., Lakeville, MN
• March 29, 2016—Radisson Hotel, 505 West Superior St., Duluth, MN

http://www.mnltap.umn.edu/training/topic/traffic/workzone/index.html





 

Don't Let the Cold Slow You Down

It’s still winter here in Minnesota, and you know what that means – it’s cold! Although it’s been a relatively mild winter so far by Minnesota standards, we always need to be mindful of the yearly dangers the cold brings. Chief among these is Freeze damage which can wreak havoc on your water lines and equipment if you aren’t careful.

FM Global has created this quick “Myth Destroyers” video and associated checklist, as well as a few additional resources to help you prevent the cold from slowing you down:
 

Myth Destroyers: (Video)

http://www.fmglobal.com/assets/videos/freeze.wmv

Freeze-Up Checklist:

http://www.fmglobal.com/shamrock/P9521.pdf

Other Useful FM Global Freeze related Links:

Freeze: The Destructive Power of Cold

Understanding the Hazard: Freeze

 

 

 

By: LMC Loss Control

Use of Personal Heaters in the Office

During the cooler times we find ourselves in these days the office can feel a bit chillier than normal. With these cooler temps, we tend to see an increase in the use of personal heaters under desks. This in itself can be of some comfort to those trying to cope with the slightly cooler than normal draft, breeze, or wind coming through the cracks and open doors around the office. The issue with the personal heaters is that most are brought from home or purchased at local consumer retail stores. These units are UL listed and marked “For consumer use only” and not intended for commercial use such as in the office.

There are a few hazards associated with consumer use heaters:

1.       These are not commercial grade units and as such can increase the fire hazards in the city buildings.  

2.       The heaters tend to remain plugged in at night and unattended during off hours.

3.       There are typically multiple heaters plugged in a single circuit which can, and often does, over load the circuit, causing the electrical wires to overheat and may lead to a fire.

4.       Some heaters that are brought in are older units of dubious origin and could have damage or wear. This leads to an increased chance for fire due to electrical shorts and overheating.

There are solutions to these issues, short of an all-out ban on their use, which could cause larger problems among the tropical island seekers in the office. There are low voltage commercial panel heaters designed for use in offices and cubicles. There are also commercial grade heaters available for purchase, which would be a more appropriate choice for use in city office properties. Establishing a policy regarding the use and care of heaters, including a policy to unplug heaters while not in use, can reduce the associated hazards tied to the non-commercial grade and consumer grade heaters brought from home which could have damaged heating elements or electrical cords, or have a dust bunny nest – each  could contribute to the fire hazards.

Local office supply distributors can be a good source for commercial grade heaters. With any heater you want to check to make sure it is not “for consumer use only”.

OK now close your eyes and imagine you are sitting on a beach. The warm breeze is blowing off the ocean. As the waves lap at the shore the warm sun is slowly washing away all of those winter chills……

Stay warm and stay safe Minnesota.

By: Paul Gladen