|
Source Resistance
|
Ground Resistance
|
Effect
|
|
very high
|
NA
|
electricity may not enter body; surface burns likely
|
|
NA
|
very high
|
electricity will not flow through body
|
|
very low
|
very low
|
most of the electricity will flow through the body; even low voltage exposures may be fatal
|
Factors decreasing resistance at source:
(1) sweat
(2) water
(3) break in skin
(4) contact with mucous membrane (oral mucosa, rectum, vagina)
Factors increasing resistance at source:
(1) gloves or other skin covering
(2) thickened skin (calloused, palm or sole of foot)
(3) perfectly intact skin
|
Source Type
|
Order of Resistance
|
|
calloused skin
|
10^6 ohms per square cm
|
|
dry well-keratinized skin
|
10^4 ohms per square cm
|
|
moist, thin skin
|
0.5 * 10^3 ohms per square cm
|
|
mucous membrane
|
10^2 ohms per square cm
|
from Beers and Berkow (1999)
Factors decreasing resistance at ground:
(1) ground moisture
(2) shoes or boots with metal cleats or hobnails
(3) grounded appliance
(4) metal plumbing
Factors increasing resistance at ground:
(1) dry surface
(2) tile or linoleum floor
(3) wood
(4) rubber mat
(5) rubber boot
(6) dry carpet
