Influence of environmental conditions on the earth pit resistance using earth pit simulator

M Mohammadi damaneh; GH Halvani; H Fallahzade; M Mohammadzadeh

doi:10.18502/tkj.v12i4.5873

M Mohammadi damaneh Department of Occupational Health, Shahid Sadughi University of Medical Sciences, yazd, Iran
GH Halvani Department of Occupational Health, Shahid Sadughi University of Medical Sciences, yazd, Iran
H Fallahzade Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Shahid Sadughi University of Medical Sciences, yazd, Iran
M Mohammadzadeh Social Determinants of Health (SDH) Research Center, and Department of Environment Health, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/tkj.v12i4.5873

Keywords: Soil Resistivity, Earthing System, Safety

Abstract

Introduction: Electrocution is the cause of many deaths in the world annually, that electric current passing between the body and earth can be the reason; thus, it is of great importance to construct the ground protection system using earth pit. This study aimed to investigate the effective environmental conditions on the earth's pit resistance using the simulation method.

Materials and Methods: In the present study, 192 different experiments were performed and repeated ten times. The parameters evaluated in this study include soil type, reducing agents type, depth, humidity, electrode type, soil density, and electrode placement shape. The resistance value is measured using a three-point ether tester by changing each of them. The obtained data were statistically analyzed, and the results were presented in tables.

Results: According to the results of the experiments, soil density and moisture are considered the most effective parameters in determining the resistance of the earth pit; so that the value of resistance is significantly reduced by changing these two parameters separately or simultaneously. Also, as density and depth of placement increase, the value of resistance in all experiments had a decreasing trend. This study showed that sand was determined as the worst soil type among the soil types due to its high resistance.

Conclusion: According to the results of this study, soil density and moisture among the seven parameters under study play a more important role in pit resistance and consequently the severity of an electric shock that should be given more attention to it.