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that result from short circuits can cause injury or start a fire. Extremely high-energy arcs <br />can damage equipment, causing fragmented metal to fly in all directions. Even low- <br />energy arcs can cause violent explosions in atmospheres that contain flammable gases, <br />vapors, or combustible dusts. <br />Why .. people sometimes " freeze" when they are shocked? <br />When a person receives an electrical shock, sometimes the electrical stimulation causes <br />the muscles to contract. This " freezing" effect makes the person unable to pull free of <br />the circuit. It is extremely dangerous because it increases the length of exposure to <br />electricity and because the current causes blisters, which reduce the body's resistance <br />and increases the current. <br />The longer the exposure, the greater the risk of serious injury. Longer exposures at even <br />relatively low voltages can be just as dangerous as short exposures at higher voltages. <br />Low voltage does not imply low hazard. <br />In addition to muscle contractions that cause " freezing," electrical shocks also can cause <br />involuntary muscle reactions. These reactions can result in a wide range of other injuries <br />from collisions or falls, including bruises, bone fractures, and even death. <br />If a person is " frozen" to a live electrical contact, shut off the current immediately. If this <br />is not possible, use boards, poles, or sticks made of wood or any other nonconducting <br />materials and safely push or pull the person away from the contact. It's important to act <br />quickly, but remember to protect yourself as well from electrocution or shock. <br />A severe shock can cause considerably more damage than meets the eye. A victim may <br />suffer internal hemorrhages and destruction of tissues, nerves, and muscles that aren't <br />readily visible. Renal damage also can occur. If you or a coworker receives a shock, seek <br />emergency medical help immediately. <br />Static electricity also can cause a shock, though in a different way and generally not as <br />potentially severe as the type of shock described previously. Static electricity can build up <br />on the surface of an object and, under the right conditions, can discharge to a person, <br />causing a shock. The most familiar example of this is when a person reaches for a door <br />knob or other metal object on a cold, relatively dry day and receives a shock. <br />However, static electricity also can cause shocks or can just discharge to an object with <br />much more serious consequences, as when friction causes a high level of static electricity <br />to build up at a specific spot on an object. This can happen simply through handling <br />plastic pipes and materials or during normal operation of rubberized drive or machine <br />belts found in many worksites. In these cases, for example, static electricity can <br />potentially discharge when sufficient amounts of flammable or combustible substances <br />are located nearby and cause an explosion. Grounding or other measures may be <br />necessary to prevent this static electricity buildup and the results. <br />Protection Against Electrical Hazards <br />What is the best way to protect yourself against electrical hazards? <br />