Improving electrical safety through forensic analysis of failure

Abstract

Electrical safety starts with policy, continues with education, requires administrative vigilance, and becomes individual responsibility at all levels. Case studies in electrical injury will be presented herein as the basis for understanding concepts of design for electrical safety. Working on the assumption that all electrical injuries are preventable, they must also be foreseeable. Instances of electrical system/human contact will be presented. Each case was subjected to adversarial analysis through litigation. How proper design for electrical safety might have prevented the occurrence will be discussed in light of the forensic viewpoints. Where it is known, the outcome by settlement or jury decision will be disclosed.