Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-09-28
CUTTING OUT SHOCKS
By Frederic J. HGskin
teach how to avoid danger.
[continued Broom EdItorlal Page. ]


teach how to avoid danger.
The new National Safety Code is di-
vided into four parts. The first gov
erns the installation and maintenance
of electrical supply stations and equip
ment. The second applies TO overhead
and underground electrical supply and
signal lines; the third deals with cleo
trical equipment in workshops and
the fourth contains safety rules for the
operation of electrical equipment and
lines.
Fatalities in Homo
An increasingly large number of
fatalities occur in the home, chiefly
because many persons have the false
impression that ii requires high voltage
to produce fatal results Death comes
frequently from contact with ordinary
ITO or 22O circuits. When proper pre-
cautions have not been taken in the
wiring OF house, person may be-
come part of low voltage circuit by
standing upon a concrete floor. or
touching metal pipes in a bathroom.
laundry or kitchen. while the hand is
also IN contact with electric fittings.
Men have been electrocuted in their
own Easements while going to replen-
ish the furnace fire. If one stands
upon concrete floor as he reaches for
the socket to turn on the electric
light, he may touch the brass shell
which has come in contact with the
live parts within, and receive the
fatal shock instantly. A switch con-
nection at the top of the stairs over
comes such risk.
bank employe carried a lamp
socket into a vault. The insulation
of the socket was defective. The met
al floor of the vault was a conducting
agent for the current, which took his
life. \ young baker in Nebraska
touched a live wire accidentally ex-
posed while he was putting away
some metal bake pans. He was killed
instantly.
Never Touch Both
The danger from contact with a
metal bath tub or gas range, both of
which have connecting pipes running
down into the ground where they pos
sibly may come in contact with live
wires, is avoided by never touching
electric equipment, and either of these
objects at the same time. The electric
light in the kitchen should be so
placed that woman could not turn 1t
on at the same time she is trying to
light the gas range. Several fatalities
have been reported from this cause.
number of persons have been
killed by attempting to use an electric
and water are excellent conductors for
electric currents. And one using an
electric iron in a damp-fioored base
ment should be sure to stand upon a
thick dry board.
Last Spring, several Philadelphia
Boy Scouts constituted themselves a
self-appointed guard over live wire
until the authorities they had notified
could reach it. For several hours they
took turns in warning people and
doubtless kept dozens of people from
coming in contact with 1t. Finally a
man cane along who objected to being
"bossed By kids" He gave the wire
a violent kick. 1t flew up in the air
and came down on his face and hand,
killing him instantly.
The ratification of the code of electri-
cal safety rules by the conference next
month is not to be regarded as final
The rules are to go on trial for a year
to test their efficiency. Another con-
ference will be held next year. 1t will
include committees from every organ
ization in any way affected by electri-
cal hazards. 1t is expected that the
reports of these committees will bring
about still further revision of the
rules which have for their final object
the elimination of accident from cleo
trical causes.