Danger High Voltage Signs are essential in any workplace that uses electricity. These signs serve to warn employees away from areas prone to electric…
Danger High Voltage Signs are essential in any workplace that uses electricity. These signs serve to warn employees away from areas prone to electric shocks and deaths; their effectiveness makes them simple yet powerful tools available immediately for shipment. They come in multiple sizes and materials with quick shipping available as an added convenience.
The government defines high voltage as any alternating current or ripple free direct current with a potential energy of 1000 volts or higher, such as that found on power lines or large motors and transformers. Working with such voltage can present risks such as arcing, fires and electric shock – the latter of which has even been known to cause death through disrupting heart rhythm.
Furthermore, humans are poor conductors of electricity, making even low voltages potentially lethal – even startingle at lower voltage levels can startle them enough for them to jerk back and contact something more hazardous in the area or create a hand-to-hand circuit that causes an electric shock that kills instantly.
Workers typically exposed to high voltage include electricians and line maintenance staff. Construction workers and tree trimmers could also be exposed to this potentially deadly power source.
While some workers believe a Danger High Voltage sign alone will suffice in keeping people away from potentially hazardous areas, this may not always be true. A sign warning of danger from current is more effective as current is the key killer – not voltage itself.
Though the amount of current required to kill someone may differ depending on their unique situation, typically no more than 20 milliamperes is usually enough. This current is equivalent to roughly what car batteries supply their starter motor with, and allowing this current to flow freely through a victim can cause them to experience either tetanus or even heart arrest.
Many believe a voltage of 30 volts is enough to pose a danger, since this exceeds the threshold at which normal body resistance can stop the current. But this is not accurate; parallel circuit pathways result in lower total resistance than any single pathway considered alone.
Before beginning any work on an electrical power system, be certain that it has been de-energized. Contact both the owner and 911 (or your local emergency number). A crew with proper training will then be dispatched to ensure it’s safe to start working on. Do not accept assurance from people outside this team as confirmation that it has been de-energized; doing so could result in injury or even death.