Common Reasons for Electric Injuries and Preventive Measures in China's Electric Power Industry

Electric energy, as a main energy source in modern society, plays a very important role in the national economy and daily life of Chinese people. The electric power industry in China has made great progress in the 1990s. By 1996, the total capacity of installed generating units reached over 235,000 MW and the annual generating capacity was about 1075 billion kWh, which ranked no. 2 and no. 3 in the world, respectively. It became a trend to use high voltage, very large generator units as well as the technologies of long-distance transmission of electric power in electric power networks. Now, a national unified electric power network is being created by connecting the electric networks in different areas. Electric power is such a convenient, clean, and economical energy, with easy transmission, control, and transformation, that it is applied more and more widely in industry and agriculture, communication and transportation, construction and national defense, scientific research, and other areas. The use of electricity has extensive, far-ranging social benefits. However, although electricity benefits people, it also presents danger. First of all, electric energy is so imperceptible that people describe it as “no sight, no smell.” People cannot hear it on extrahigh voltage equipment unless equipment operates in humid weather, such as in rain or snow. Using the human five senses, it is almost impossible to judge whether equipment carries live electric energy or not. Furthermore, the transmission/transformation of electric energy to other energy modes (such as light, heat, sound, or mechanical and chemical energy) is completed almost instantaneously. A single conductor or electric facility carries high energy potential. This energy can be released instantly when someone touches a conductor, and the current then passes through the person’s body to the ground or the other pole. High energy is able to severely damage biological tissues and organs. It may also cause cardiac defibrillation and death. As little as 30 mA of electric current passing through the heart can kill a person. Electric power accidents have high rates of crippling and mortality. Such accidents can cause the loss of life and property directly, and can leave barely healed scars on people’s bodies and minds. The damage and loss caused by electric power accidents is always significant. In case of severe injury, the victim may be confined to a hospital bed for several months. Years may be spent in and out of various medical facilities, with multiple painful operations and growing costs of medical treatment. Following electric injury, the survivors may lose some independent living abilities,