I need you guys to provide feedback on this one

quick addendum. Last night was my eldest's parents evening. Talking with his science teacher about my eldest's desire to do electrical and mechanical engineering as a career. The teacher at one point suggested he ought to watch this amazing video he'd found on YT about the dangers of electrocution, made by this chap in the IoM! He reckons it ought to be compulsory viewing for all students...!

Rik Kershaw-Moore

I see it featured on Hackaday, should get the views up.

Snorkers

I'm expecting a lot of flack for the CPR bit when I release the video.

Big Clive

That's part of the reason I've put this video up. Token gesture safety education in slideshow based crash certification.

Big Clive

Thanks for that Clive, on the button as usual, the biggest problem nowadays is that these new "fast track" so called sparks have no respect for electricity. I hope they don't find out the hard way. Didn't know that about the checking for pulse, so i have learned something today. Keep up the good work!!

Shorty

Very interesting and informative.I learned something. 👍🏻

Mick Spanner

Just on this, the breath of life isnt necessary. The theory is that if you are doing your compressions correctly this will already be causing enough air to flow into the lungs.

David Aylward

A difficult, complex and serious subject. I can see now why it took so long to get something together you'd be happy publishing.

Russell Couper

Sorry it's taken me a while to post this but I wanted to give it proper thought, and work and other things got in the way. But first, by pure chance I was watching The Electronic Engineer's vid on making a high-voltage "Russian slayer" a day or two ago [thx @Spectrum DIY for the pointer to his channel]; and Clive it may be worth studying how he deals with visually presenting a similar H&S warning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Im6iXEeVaww Note his use of a schematic from about 5:45, and clips of lightning dancing on telegraph lines from about 6:50. Not a hint of gratuitous gore, but the point is made perfectly clear. I managed to write down a list of suggestions but I don't want to clog this chat stream up too much, so they can be downloaded from https://tinyurl.com/suggs-for-BC

Ymir the Frost Giant

It is the current that kills, but a very common error is saying "electricity takes the path of least resistance". It doesn't. It takes ALL paths of resistance simultaneously (including you.)

Big Clive

And he'd be getting strong shocks when he tried to use his other hand to prise it off. (Not a good idea.)

Big Clive

Great Vid, As a person who 'Believes Himself' to be well educated via experience and tuition i still found new things to learn. Even if you know everything, Complacency is a real killer so its always good to have a reminder in either case.... I found the comments from 'John Starling' regarding the medical after effects very interesting and could possibly be incorporated in the vid.... Thumbs up guys

Julian Butler

The video of the pressure washer guy - wow, there was nothing he could do to release his grip until he managed to disconnect the power. Frightening!

I'll be sharing it when it's out👍🏻... One thing that drives me mad is people saying (it's the amps that kill you). My argument is electricity kills.

Simon Hopkins

Yes and no flames 🔥⚡😉

Simon Hopkins

Good video, Clive. If you revise it, I'd suggest expanding on the importance of not assuming things like earth/ground or "neutral" wires are 1) what they are, and 2) not carrying voltage, which are particularly important to home owners who choose to replace their own outlets, switches, and fixtures-- inexpensive no-contact voltage probes are handy here.

Justin Smith

When i was a lifeguard at 15 the first thing you were taught was survey the scene, when i was a EMTB @19 the Frist thing you were taught was survey the scene. now years later and in school, survey the scene. Know what you are Doing. :) if you want to do electrical work.

Jonathan Hughes

Great video Clive. I learned a lot from this, which really i should have known at least some of already. It’s an important message to get out and you present it perfectly I think. Having been launched across the room by a 575v welder power supply, I know how much it hurts 😊

I'm a mechanic and sometimes I have seen other workshops with trailing 240v extensions lying across the floor and mechanics just dragging trolley Jack's over them. Madness

Pat Bell

Well done Clive, I learned stuff today that I should have known about for the past 35 years.

Pat Bell

CPR has changed dramatically over my lifetime. It used to be the full works of taking pulse, checking for breathing, looking for objects in mouth, tilting back head and giving breaths , measuring fingers up from bottom of rib cage and applying chest compressions . Now it's been streamlined to put strong emphasis on firm chest compressions as soon as possible to get oxygen to the brain.

Big Clive

I was trying to keep it short. Capacitors tend to deliver sore, but non fatal zaps.

Big Clive

I would expect most channel viewers to have had at least one tingle.

Big Clive

Still a better option than bare sweaty hands. It turns a fatal shock into a strong zap.

Big Clive

The event industry has a horrible history of using casual labour to do electrical work and also word of mouth training from "audio experts" who routinely cut the earth wire in plugs to "avoid ground loops". Just type "singer electrocuted" into YouTube to see what I mean.

Big Clive

I originally wanted to keep it down to 15 minutes, but to convey all the information and make it interesting it ended up longer. This took several "script" rewrites (actually just a subject list) and literally about 30 takes spread over a year or more to try and get it right.

Big Clive

One slight downside of the 110/120V supply is that it may make people more complacent about it. Even 50V in a wet environment suddenly becomes dangerous.

Big Clive

Part of the reason I made this video is to address the fact that many repair workers have to do fault diagnosis live to be able to trace the fault. Although you can lock out, tag out many tasks, a lot still have to be done with power on. I also like to encourage people to assume that isolated equipment can become live from other sources.

Big Clive

It will be on the main channel.

Big Clive

I had to provide links directly to videos as searching for "electrocuted" actually brings up some nasty overhead contact stuff and also lots of junk videos of people pretending to get electric shocks. I should be OK if I don't host them on my own channel.

Big Clive

Yikes....

Dustin

I think you did a great job of explaining electrical shock and the effects on the body. I'm sure I'd be dead by now if we did not use 110v for most outlets and lighting here in the US. I've grabbed 220 v a few times, luckily with one hand. Wasn't fun.

Hi Clive, as an electrical engineer who moved onto nursing I just need to point out that anyone who has received an electric shock severe enough to cause severe muscle contraction, is higher than domestic voltage or results in an entry and exit burn no matter how small MUST be seen in an Emergency Department as apart from an ECG and baseline observations they would have a Creatine Kinase /Myoglobin level blood test at the time and up to 48hrs later which will show muscle damage, and elevated CK levels or Myoglobin can cause kidney failure. Victims of electric shock can have a normal ECG but muscle damage can only show up in blood tests. Case in point while working in A&E a male presented with a burn to his index finger and thumb after touching a live busbar in an industrial consumer unit, his ECG was fine as the path was across his hand, but he lost his thumb and had electro coagulation of the blood vessels in the palm of his hand that needed vascular reconstruction. He also required a few sessions of dyalisis to support his kidneys as he developed Rhabdomyolysis (muscle death) from the electrical injury.

a very informative video.

Liz Edwards

Then there was this lorry driver near Berlin a few years ago. He started operating a loading crane mounted on his lorry directly underneath the 10 kV power line...

Tobi

It wasn't over-dramatic, it was a matter-of-fact recitation of the dangers, HOW they are a danger, and WHY they are a danger. Well done! You might also mention the handheld current testers. They monitor an ambient envrionment and squeal if it comes in contact with significant amperage. Not infallible, but a good piece of kit to use when approaching an unknown situation.

Mike Bird

Good video Clive, being stimulated to stop and think about avoiding live contacts (with a route to ground) is always useful. I agree with Tim Blake however that maybe linking to graphic or upsetting content might actually detract from your message. Your verbal descriptions are unambiguous and clear! I had to smile at your description of enclosed spaces being your "least favourite" high risk environment! You have a favourite ? : -0 ( We know what you mean : - )

Good point about the jewellery / watches / rings side of things. remove all metal from your hands and wrists (or as BC says glove up well).

Nice Video Clive! Maybe you should also include the 5 safety rules that we have here in Germany. 1. Turn off the power 2. Marke sure nobody can turn it back on (lock on a breaker) 3. Always measure if there are any voltages 4. Grounding and shorting everything you are working on 5. Cover adjacent electric parts that cant be turnt off

Good talk on safety,It should be on your main channel.

richard ockman

Excellent video Clive, clear concise and to the point, none of those “Horrible Histories” type presentation, you can’t make electrocution “attractive”

John Dodd

It's excellent Clive. Only thing I didn't check is the links in the description. Linking to anything overly graphic, or even to anything that has an obvious likely bad outcome, would seem to have risks (by association) to you. These resources should be as loosely connected as possible - perhaps suggested search terms etc. I believe most viewers won't be interested in exploring the extra resources anyway..

Very useful video. Great community service! Your adding of the "it is not always fatal, but ..." qualifier is very smart, because otherwise people who heard of others surviving shocks will not be able to reconcile a warning with what their "Bros" tell them.

Stefan Szomraky

Good video Clive. I hope it saves somebody's life someday. I've been close once. In my miss-spent youth I used to play with government surplus radio equipment. This particular item had a well-insulated jack socket for a morse key. I had plugged in the key which had a metal shell. It was bit stiff when I tried to pull it out so I grabbed the metal case with one hand while pulling the plug out with the other. I didn't know that the key switched +540V DC to the anode of the output valve. I manged to jump backwards and all that happened was a hole burned in the end of my finger from the DC arc .On reflection, I should have taken the hint with all the insulation around the socket. Fortunately all my radio gear now uses 13.8V DC although don't underestimate the possibilty of an RF burn from 100W of RF into a reactive load. (Antenna or antenna tuner) You'd be amazed at how high the voltage can go at resonance.

Malcolm J Bannister

A very informative video Clive well done Sir. Years ago I got a nasty belt off a two turntable DJ unit I was asked to look at. I was told it kept cutting out, so I plugged it all in and picked up the microphone to test it. Got flung backwards into a wall which caused the microphone to be pulled out of my hand. Seems some 'tinker' had wired the mic earth to the mains...

And yes, your video should be published.

Keith Miller

It's usually when you don't expect it! A 12V fluorescent light in my van dropped off its bracket. When I grabbed it I touched something on the rear circuit board which gave quite a decent shock. On another occasion a motor engineer acquaintance, wearing a watch with one of those fancy metal expanding bracelets, managed to get it caught between the positive terminal and nearby bare metal. Almost instant red hot band round his wrist resulted in an emergency trip to hospital. He survived, but it shows that even 12V can catch you unawares.

Keith Miller

A friend of mine just saved someone's life who was electrocuted last week. The electrician friend was convulsing in a corner while touching a live wire. At first my friend didn't realize what was going on, the convulsions sounded like laughter. When he realized, the electrician had no heartbeat and stopped breathing. My friend started recussitating and kept at it for almost ten minutes until emergency services arrived. Without any visible sign of life. When they got there they took over and brought the guy back. He's got a bunch of broken ribs and no memory of the day. CPR saves lives.

Martin Sona

Good to emphasise dry gloves - but if they can absorb water, they will become wet if your hands are sweaty.

adrian

I had an electric shock when I was isolated, I was in a cottage in wales, nearest house was about 6 miles away...

Sog Sussex

I agree with Eric about the time limit. It was getting a bit rambly and undirected around the 10 minute mark : maybe you could cut some of that down a little more ?

adrian

Quite a complex subject well laid out and presented. You've managed to squeese a lot of info into 20 minutes without it feeling rushed. Excellent! This video will save lives.

Sog Sussex

I dunno if something like this would truly benefit from being short as possible. I mean I get why, attention spans are short an YouTube is all about the ~15 minute video lengths. What I will say is that it does convey the essentials in terms of trying to avoid electrocution risks and what to do in the even of possible electrocutions. I base this assessment in large part as to how my employer would handle this kind of situation, because the merest hint of unnecessary risk of shock or electrocution, they will stop the work entirely to try and figure out a different way to mitigate the risk as much as possible, and the advice you gave is very much in line with how our safety team would approach such concerns.

Eric Woodley

I have found a video about non electricians getting shocks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4H0S-Th0ndo A link to several videos, some of witch you may find suitable to add to your list. https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=electric+shock+human+body+resistance+

Namirred

I worked with a guy who, as an apprentice, was issued a (steel) safety helmet. A few months into training he was looking into a live 3 phase (415v) cabinet and shorted two bus bars, and instantly welded the peak of the helmet to said bars. The issue was that the cabinet was recessed, and he couldn't get the chin strap to release himself. He was threatened with losing his trousers for a while. A police taser, in my opinion, is a good example of what an electric shock may do. What fascinates me is how in films, you can be knocked out for anywhere from a few minutes to several hours.

Namirred

I hate pond electrics water and electric in the same place. I once nearly killed myself with my fish tank I was cleaning it and the accidently left the heater on (had removed pumps and cleaners etc but forgot to double check everything) without the water cooling it it got quite hot and I splashed it with cold water and popped the glass case so I now had live water with my hands in it, not very nice af all. Never do that again always double check with electrics now

Publish away I think everything is covered as it should be and easy to follow as usual

This is a fantastic video. very sobering and well done!

Rik Kershaw-Moore

Definitely publish it. As usual you explain everything without drama and dispel so much disinformation while at the same time leaving the viewer with balanced, experience based advice. It might get demonetised, but so what? It is important for it to be out there. It would be interesting to find out how many of your viewers have had a shock. I've had my share including one that tore a muscle in my shoulder. Most were 'ouch, bugger! ' moments, but that one elicited fruitier language. But as you say, having survived it there was no lasting damage. Indeed it did me good - I learned a valuable lesson.

Andy Timmons

Perhaps the only thing I'd be wary of is the use of gloves. I know what you're trying to say in anything is better than nothing. Sadly you can be sure some muppet will have a damp pair of cotton gardening gloves on, messing with a pond pump and then wonder why they lit up like an Xmas tree.

Gerry BVR

Very good, no mention of charged capcitors? Medi being the prime example of an immune to electricity person....not.

Tokkan FX

All good information Clive. I think it it well explained, perfectly.

Jeremy Travis

Great advice Clive. I know from stupid experience that A nasty belt made me very much more cautious. I now double, or triple check that the electrical item IS actually safe. As for the leather gloves, not so good in hot weather as sweaty hands make them damp.

An Informative video Clive. For most I’m guessing it great to be reminded not to become complacent!

Looks good to me. So if I'm into BDSM and wear an all-round Latex suit (including Latex on fingers) then I'd be safe? And all others should bring rubber mat and gloves?

I thought it was great. Long enough to contain all the relevant information but not so long that people will get bored.

Lifeguard of over 7 years here: I've learned something new! They still drill into us that CPR on a healthy heart would cause issues, but I did a bit of research after your comment to the contrary and I'm finding no facts to back my training up. Crazy that they still tell us that! Excellent video Clive.

I think you've nailed it pretty well. I agree that the most dangerous situations are the ones where you don't expect something to be hot and it is. Most of the deaths and close calls I've known about locally were exactly in that kind of setting, including my own close call.

Peter Argyropoulos

should be a mandatory watch for all tradespeople who might come into contact with electricity

Arthur Clampitt

Will this one where we will see "JIMMIIIII" from what ashens always samples? ;)

Tim Albers

Excellent video Clive. Covers all the do’s and don’t with some first hand experiences, with all the necessary cautions and warnings. Send it to the masses I say

Mike Wynne

I think it’s an excellent educational video, Clive. I had no issues with it at all. It’s a cautionary tale, and I’m not sure how someone could take issue with it. Keep it up.

Good points.

Jason Brinkerhoff

I would say your CPR advise matches with the training I've had. Anyone can become CPR certified, and I really believe every able bodied adult should take the training at least once, even if they don't maintain their certificate. Anyone working in a potentially hazardous environment should definitely take the training and the 2 year refreshers.

Jason Brinkerhoff

It's a complex topic, and particularly difficult to try to explain to less-technical or non-technical people, because most people have no idea what electricity is or how it works; they may not even know the term "current", which is the one that matters for electric shocks. That said, you did an admirable job. I thought you covered all of the important bits, did a good job of explaining what they meant, and more importantly, what the significance of them was. If I had to pick one thing that I thought was perhaps less obvious than it could have been - and it's a small thing - it's that you used the term "isolated" a few times, and people who don't know electricity at all won't get it - at least in North America; maybe it's more commonly known in the UK. I tend to say "disconnected" or just explain exactly what I mean every time it comes up. Great video, Clive!

Charles

Seems spot on.

Scrufdog

That should be okay I'd imagine. Totally agree on the overhead line vids. They can be very grim.

Ross Robertson

This video is mainly dealing with the fact that troubleshooting electrical equipment sometimes has to be done while it's powered. I'll add more info about lock out tag out in the description.

Big Clive

The full YouTube title is The unofficial guide to electrocution (and how to avoid it). I'm not featuring any overhead line videos. They're far too graphic.

Big Clive

I think you've pretty well nailed it, Clive. The only changes I can think of are the title of the video. Youchoob bots may interpret it as a how-to type of guide to Electrocution and demonitise it or even ban it. Also making it clear right from the get go that electric shocks and electrocution are different things. We, here, all know but some who watch it when it is released may not. (I know you cover that but its a fair way into the video). The extra info and links are good too. I'm kinda glad you didn't link to that electrocution vid that's out there of the men moving a large scaffolding erection and it obviously coming into contact with live wires. You can see where they all grip on and fry.

Ross Robertson

A couple things I thought you were about to mention but didn't: Locking devices on breakers/cut-outs so other people can't restore the supply while you're working, and in industrial settings awareness of where the e-stops are.

David Reader

It might be good to see if you can get a CPR dummy that shows the circulation, like I trained on. That way you can demonstrate what you mean and take something to bits that I doubt many have on YouTube.

Elliot Reid

No particular incident. I'm just alarmed at how electrical training in the UK has degenerated into a smattering of one-day slideshows with no proper understanding of the hazards.

Big Clive

The title does include "And how to avoid it."

Big Clive

That was a pretty close call. It was probably your survival instinct kicking in.

Big Clive

That did go through my mind. But I don't care if it does.

Big Clive

I did cover ways to break the connection.

Big Clive

It doesn't matter which era of CPR information I mentioned. It will get flak from the armchair experts. I actually did a lot of investigation and adjusted the content to match current techniques shared between the UK and USA.

Big Clive

It doesn't matter which era of CPR information I give. It will get jumped on by the armchair paramedics. The point of the gloves is that anything is better than bare hands.

Big Clive

Great video, very informative. Is there a reason you chose to bring this subject up? Did we lose a friend that could have been prevented? Is this an extension of a subject discussed on Saturday. OR, is it just an informative vlog not intended to freak anyone out???

Chuck Kirchner

Part of the reason for making this video is that the really important down to earth parts of safety information are completely missing from modern crash-training slideshows.

Big Clive

One of the key points about CPR that you may or may not have mentioned is locking your elbows out. Lots of people see CPR on TV and assume it's just like doing a pushup; bending your elbows etc. In fact, there's sometimes a significant amount of force required to perform effective CPR, especially on a well developed adult. The recommendation is to lock your elbows, palms on top of one another, and push down with your core. Twice per second is about the recommended rate; too slow and it's ineffective, too fast and the heart doesn't have enough time to refill with blood. If an AED is available then get someone to get it whilst you start CPR. Often the emergency services will have a location of the nearest AED and will sometimes tell you or the person helping where it is. If your workplace has an AED, make sure you know where it is, and make sure that it's registered with the national 'Circuit' database so it can be used to help people in an emergency. If you can get first aid training, then absolutely go for it. Some employers will make a basic CPR course compulsory for being able to work on anything other than trivial voltage systems, and I personally don't see a disadvantage with it.

Very informative, a typical BC “this is why you do not want this to happen” explanation! The thing that sticks with me for CPR is an advert with Vinnie Jones - and the message is go hard and fast - use the song “staying alive” (from the Bee Gees) as a guide. :)

Gareth Molyneux

All looked pretty good to me, I think you're right about copping flak for CPR/gloves but there's nothing you can do about it so *shrug*

Jrandom Bob

My feedback is 99% positive on this, if aimed at the public in general, as i kinda said in the previous statement, if someone looks the least bit shakey, dial 999, ask for advice at least. NEVER assume a shock is harmless unless it truly is one of those 'i knew i was touching a live wire before i touched it and it nipped me' things. and even then....

Chipmunk

Good video Clive! I see no problem in putting this video out to the public.

A good broad overview both for people who work with electricity and the general public

Dr Andy Hill

That's a great video.. As an Electrical Engineer for a long time, there are basics you mentioned that I think we all come complacent with over time. It is interesting that when you see someone being electrocuted, instincts is to race over and pull them away with your bare (bear) hands (like the last video link you've listed). I had to stop an apprentice once doing that (just in time) and got him to turn off the breakers instead.

I thought it was a very informative video, well delivered.

Sam Yates

I think that you covered things well. Hopefully this will be the most viewed video ever. Even if you have no intentions of working on mains powered equipment, you should watch this, just to be aware.

TopEndSpoonie

It's late so I may have missed it but it might be worth reiterating the need to remove supply before approaching the person? (When talking about cpr etc)

As always a great video Big Clive. I thought it was all good and I understand what you mean by researching and finding conflicting info. CPR info changes fairly often, and my only critique would be to remove that one part. I like the bits with the anatomical effects of electrocution, but maybe not give CPR/chest compression advice since that's an ever changing and location specific. Otherwise great presentation.

Frankfactor

The description of the locked on is 100% accurate clive. And what it looks like, and what you should do as a colleague. There are as you know, 2 types of shock... the 'ow f*** i'm an idiot' type, and the one where they look shocked... [as in, adrenaline is clearly running]. that one, dial 999/112/911/000, whatever... immediately.

Chipmunk

To appease the YT algorithm you might want to weave "prevention" into the title.

Peter Stevens

When I was a kid, I had a severe electrocution when I touched the live and neutral pins of an unsheathed plug in a building with no modern electrical safety. I was kneeling down and my whole body contracted into the floor with my hand clamped around the plug. I remember the intense shimmering sensation pulsing up my arm and then my vision went through a grey tunnel effect until everything was just black. I remember a tiny voice seemingly from deep inside my brain, the most primitive part of my consciousness that seemed to say ‘I think you should let go’ and somehow I was suddenly flung backwards and off the power source. I thought nothing much of it and went to school as normal. I can’t believe how close a call that was looking back at it.

I bet it gets demonetised for some silly reason.

David Rickard