Illustrated reconstruction of the kitchen-faucet shock; this is not a photograph of the actual moment.
Experience can make an electrician more capable, but familiarity can also make a hazard feel ordinary. Early in my career in South Korea, two electrical shocks changed the way I approach every circuit, metal enclosure, and customer complaint. These are not stories about bravery. They are records of mistakes that should never be repeated.
Never use the body as a test instrument. Identify the circuit, isolate it where possible, prove the tester, verify absence of voltage at the work point, and recheck the tester before making contact.
The Two Incidents at a Glance
Technical limitation: A voltage reading alone does not reveal the exact current that passed through a person. No body-current or source-impedance measurement was made during Case 1, so this article does not assign a numerical shock current.
Case 1: Never Trust Your Hand
A customer reported feeling electricity whenever they touched the kitchen faucet. I was still a young electrician, and the senior worker with me believed the complaint should be confirmed directly.
He said, “Touch it and see.”
I followed that instruction and touched the faucet with my bare hand. The shock felt strong, especially in the damp kitchen environment. A later measurement showed approximately 190 V at the faucet.
The source was an under-cabinet light installed at the sink. Its grounding connection had not been made. The site diagnosis indicated capacitive coupling and leakage associated with the ungrounded lighting installation. Because the leakage did not reach the operating threshold of the 30 mA protective device, the breaker did not trip.
Why the 190 V Reading Did Not Tell the Whole Story
A high-impedance meter can display substantial voltage from capacitive coupling even when the available current is limited. That does not make contact safe. The actual effect on a person depends on the source impedance, contact path, contact duration, skin condition, moisture, and other factors. Damp skin can reduce contact resistance and make the sensation considerably stronger.
This is also why “the breaker did not trip” must never be interpreted as “there was no electrical hazard.” A 30 mA residual-current device is an important protective layer, but it is not a substitute for correct grounding, proper insulation, and testing before touch.
What I Changed After Case 1
- Treat every tingling or shock complaint as a genuine fault until testing proves otherwise.
- Use an appropriate voltage tester or meter before touching a faucet, enclosure, appliance, or other conductive part.
- Check the protective conductor and bonding instead of assuming they were installed correctly.
- Consider the limitations of the measuring instrument and interpret the reading in context.
Case 2: The Metal Box That Became Live
Illustrated reconstruction of the second shock; this is not a photograph of the actual accident.
The second accident occurred while I was investigating a bathroom exhaust fan that had stopped working. Above the ceiling, a metal outlet box was suspended from a threaded metal support rod.
I climbed a ladder without insulated gloves. I held the threaded rod with my right hand and pulled the metal box with my left. A conductor with damaged insulation was touching the inside of the box, and the box’s grounding conductor had never been connected.
The metal box was energized. With one hand on the box and the other on the grounded rod, my body completed the fault path. The 30 mA residual-current device operated and disconnected the supply.
Holding two conductive objects with opposite hands can create a path across the upper body. The correct response is not to “grab carefully,” but to isolate the supply and prove the work point de-energized before contact.
Why Grounding and the RCD Both Mattered
A correctly connected protective conductor provides a designed fault-current path and helps protective devices disconnect an energized metal enclosure. In this installation, the missing grounding connection allowed the faulted metal box to remain energized until another path was created.
The RCD then provided a critical additional layer of protection, but its operation does not make the original approach acceptable. Grounding, residual-current protection, isolation, testing, and suitable protective equipment are complementary safeguards—not interchangeable ones.
The Symptoms I Ignored
After the incident, I experienced shoulder pain and an abnormal sensation in my palm for some time. My hand felt thick and waterlogged, similar to the feeling after staying in water for a long period. I did not seek medical care at the time.
Looking back, not receiving an examination was not evidence that the shock was harmless. Electrical injuries may not always be obvious from the skin. Anyone who experiences persistent pain, numbness, weakness, breathing difficulty, loss of consciousness, an irregular heartbeat, burns, or other concerning symptoms after an electrical shock should seek prompt medical assessment or emergency assistance appropriate to the situation.
Medical reference: MedlinePlus — Electrical injury. This article does not replace professional medical advice.
The Safety Procedure I Follow Today
- Identify the correct circuit and every possible source of supply.
- Switch off and isolate the circuit.
- Apply lockout and warning identification where applicable.
- Confirm the tester works on a known source.
- Verify absence of voltage at the actual work point.
- Recheck the tester on a known source before beginning contact work.
For workplace electrical tasks in South Korea, Article 319 of the Rules on Occupational Safety and Health Standards addresses work on de-energized circuits. Its procedure includes identifying all power sources, isolating and confirming disconnecting devices, applying locks and tags, discharging stored energy where required, testing for the presence of voltage, and grounding when voltage could reappear.
Official reference: Korean National Law Information Center — Article 319. Requirements must be applied according to the actual workplace and current law.
Why the Two Protective Devices Behaved Differently
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an RCD prevent every electrical shock?
No. It is an important additional protective device, but it does not eliminate every possible shock condition. Its presence never removes the need for grounding, insulation, safe isolation, voltage testing, and appropriate protective equipment.
Why could a meter show approximately 190 V from capacitive coupling?
A high-impedance meter can detect voltage coupled through capacitance from nearby energized conductors or equipment. The displayed voltage alone does not establish how much current the source can deliver, so further diagnosis is required.
Is an ungrounded metal enclosure safe if an RCD is installed?
No. Protective grounding and residual-current protection perform different, complementary functions. Missing grounding can allow a conductive enclosure to remain energized until another current path appears.
What should be done after an electrical shock?
First make the area safe without touching a person who remains connected to the source, and call emergency services when the situation is serious. Because internal injury may not be visible, concerning or persistent symptoms require professional medical assessment.
Field Conclusion
I survived both incidents, but survival did not make the methods acceptable. The first accident proved that human senses cannot evaluate an electrical fault. The second proved that an ordinary-looking metal part can become the missing link in a dangerous current path.
Experience does not make electricity less dangerous. Disciplined verification makes electrical work safer.
Continue Reading
Part 2 documents the most dangerous mistake of my career: selecting the wrong circuit breaker before working in a wet construction tunnel.
Continue to Part 2: The Most Dangerous Electrical Mistake I Ever Made →
Safety notice: This article records real field incidents for safety education. It is not a universal live-work procedure. Electrical work must be performed by qualified persons using procedures, equipment, and protective measures appropriate to the installation and applicable requirements.
Published: July 25, 2026
Electric Korea
Korean Electrical Construction · Field Experience · Safety · Technical Education
Website: electrickorea.co.kr
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