Electric Shock Investigation Seminars

Legal Issues for Electrical Incident Investigations

This module investigates the generic legal issues associated with an electric shock incident investigation, electrical installations and equipment compliance, electrical work compliance, and giving evidence in court.

Causes, Effects and Prevention of Electrical Incidents

The causes of electrical incidents are investigated using the Swiss Cheese Model. The effects of Incidents are detailed in this module.

Root Cause Analysis (RCA) is briefly introduced to identify the causes of incidents, including any underlying causes, so corrective and preventative actions can be formulated.

Effects of Current on Human Beings

This module looks at the short and long-term effects of the various types of electricity on the human body. The role the human body plays are discussed.

The three important ‘threshold’ values of current are discussed as well as the maximum duration of touch voltage and the values of voltage likely to cause the three ‘thresholds’ of touch current.

Effects on Current on Livestock

This very brief module looks at the effects of electric current on livestock, particularly dairy cattle. The values for the threshold of reaction and fibrillation are discussed. The module completes with a few brief case studies.

Introduction to Lightning

How lightning is propagated, the various shock mechanisms, the effects of lightning on livestock and humans and how to investigate electrical incidents to determine if lightning has played a role in the incident, are all discussed in this module.

Introduction to Electric Arcs

Arc Flash incidents are investigated in this module including what happens in an arc flash event, the injuries that can be sustained, common causes of arc flash incidents, how to manage arc flash incidents, how to manage arc flash including designing out the risk and the use of lower order controls such as procedures and PPE. The module also includes how to investigate incidents from arc flash perspective.

Earthing System Operation

The purpose of earthing and what can go wrong with earthing are detailed in this module. Additionally, the module includes a detailed investigation into the MEN system and a brief look at other earthing systems including the IT, TT, HV earthing and SWER earthing. Testing of earth impedance using various pieces of test equipment is included.

MEN Polarity, Neutral Integrity and Phase Rotation Testing

This module covers the various testing methods of testing MEN polarity and neutral integrity, the effects of reverse polarity connections in the MEN system and why they occur and prevention, acceptable voltage levels for the voltage method of checking neutral integrity, and phase rotation issues and requirements.

Fault Loop Impedance

Loop impedance is covered in detail in this module including what it is, requirements from the Wiring Rules, how to measure, acceptable test results, standard requirements, test instruments and specifications, errors and problems that occur with the loop impendance testers and how to overcome the errors.

Test Instrument Usage

Understanding test instruments is important in the interpretation of their measurements. This module investigates the principles of instrument usage, purchasing test instruments, maintenance and calibration, legal requirements, various test instruments and their limitations, and tests required by the Wiring Rules. Proximity testers, voltmeters, power quality loggers used for investigations and the Electric Shock Investigations Kit are investigated in depth.

Residual Current Devices

RCD issues, such as their design, wiring Rules requirements including installation and testing issues, legislative requirements, testing and tagging, additional requirements for construction and demolition sites, ‘nuisance’ tripping issues and the investigation of electrical incidents where RCDs are involved, are all covered in this module.

Forensic Incident Investigation

This section is sub-divided into 5 different training modules as follows:

Preplanning

Being prepared for a forensic investigation of an electric shock incident is important. This module prepares individuals and companies for an investigation. The module looks at investigation procedures, forms, training, report writing templates, equipment issues and evidence storage preparations.

First Response

This module details requirements to ensure no further victims fall foul to risks at the incident site. Additionally, requirements in allowing ‘the rescue’, securing the incident scene, reporting to the authorities, establishing an investigation team, and investigating ASAP are important, and parallel investigation issues are all covered in this module.

Collecting the Evidence

Scene examination, and evidence gathering including documenting the scene, sketching, collecting visual evidence, and the collection of electrical evidence are detailed in this module. The collection of evidence via interviews is also important and so requirements and interview techniques are discussed. Offsite evidence and evidence preservation are also detailed.

Analysis and Interpretation

In this module, all the evidence is analysed and interpreted, materials are analysed and examined as necessary, a hypothesis is developed, and an action plan is developed to rectify and prevent further incidents.

Report Writing > Finalisation

A report can be formulated from the analysis and interpretation of all the evidence. Reports take various formats, but a written report is important. What to include, what not to include, and formatting mistakes are investigated in this module so a high-quality report can be formulated.

This course is concluded with finalising corrective and preventative actions, conducting a post-investigation review and completing all internal records.