AC Voltage Risk Assessment

Converting the current flowing through the body to tolerable voltage criteria makes it easier to analyze electrical risks. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the International Electrotechnical Commission each provide a representation of body resistance that allows for this conversion. Other standards present voltage criteria that are based on common practice, e.g., as part of an electrical code or equipment design criteria.

This blog article outlines some of the concepts and criteria used in specific work settings. It is best to use suitable analyses for these situations. Electricity should always be approached with caution, since zero risk cannot always be achieved. Robust and reasonable means of mitigation must be set up to control one or more of the factors affecting the consequences of an electric shock, i.e., tolerable voltage, body resistance, path through the body and exposure duration.

Concept of acceptable risk

Risk acceptability can be based on evaluating the commonly assumed worst case (deterministic method) or on the relationship between the probability of occurrence and the consequences (probabilistic method)