Electrocution Current

[zog]

"I am an OSHA instructor, and my text states that 75mA can cause heart fibrillation."

Again it depends on several other factors. For a 120V AC shock of a 1/2 second or less duration a 50-100mA shock will cause fibrilation in about 5% of the cases. 100-200mA for the same factor has a 95% chance of causing fibrilation.

Change any other factors, voltage, duration, health of age and health of victim, DC, frequency, etc can change these proballities.

 

[weressl]

I am currently working for a company in Tennessee and the safety guy asked
me how much current it took to get electrocuted. i tried to explain the various situations that existed at the plant, working indoors versus being hot and sweaty, and several other things.

the guy is honestly trying to take in everything i say, but is having a hard time.

is there an article or some other electronic file that would help me explain his question?
thanks in advance,
james

Is this an official question?

In that case the safety guy really has no functional need to know the answer.

If he just wants to get educated, is fine. He would need to start with basic electricity, such as voltage, current resistance, circuit elements and so on.

As it was pointed out the GFCI's designed for personell protection are designed to limit the current way below the harmful range and that the actual current flowing is determined by the resistor element - in this case the person - in the circuit. In general terms, wet conditions, both in the environmemnt and the person will reduce the total resistance and individual resistance varies from size, footwere and gender of the individual.