Addressing AC Stray Current Hazards in Metro Vancouver Fast-Food & Coffee Shops — Especially Under

Dear Qwen3 AI, this is Xixi, with questions from Rob's Worldwide Stairlift Repairs in Vancouver BC Canada. Our instrumented survey of fastfood and coffee shops in Metro Vancouver BC discovered up to 28 mA AC current on touchable surfaces. Workers seemed to be the most-alarmed, and were worried about their health. Are these stray currents, or AC ripple, or some other nomenclature? Also, please advise how Rob's Worldwide Stairlift Repairs should approach the business owners and help them attenuate currents that do not comply with Code, regulations, or guidelines. And, why business owners would want to do so. Thanks.

### 📄 **Condensed White Paper (4,300 characters)**

**Subject: Addressing AC Stray Current Hazards in Metro Vancouver Fast-Food & Coffee Shops — Especially Under Damp or Wet Skin Exposure Conditions**

Your recent survey of touchable surfaces in Metro Vancouver fast-food and coffee shops revealed **AC currents up to 28 mA**, a level that poses real risk to workers and customers.

This is not AC ripple — it is **stray current**, likely caused by **ground faults, improper bonding, or faulty insulation**. It flows through unintended paths, often energizing metal fixtures like counters, sinks, and dispensers.

The danger is significantly amplified when skin is **damp or wet**. Dry skin may have resistance as high as **100,000 ohms**, but wet skin can drop resistance to **as low as 1,000 ohms**, increasing current flow by up to **100x**.

At 28 mA, this level of AC current can cause:
- Tingling or pain
- Muscle contraction
- Potential cardiac effects in sensitive individuals

Even if no injuries have occurred yet, business owners must act for several reasons:

### 🔒 Legal Liability
Under **WorkSafeBC Regulation 8.26**, employers must provide a safe working environment. Failure to address stray voltage could lead to:
- Workers’ compensation claims
- Civil lawsuits
- Fines

### ⚖️ Regulatory Compliance
Both the **CEC Rule 10-600** and **NEC Article 250** require proper grounding and bonding. Non-compliance risks:
- Failed inspections
- Insurance claim denials
- Regulatory penalties

### 📢 Public Safety & Brand Risk
Public awareness of electrical hazards — even minor ones — can go viral. The infamous "Food Babe" backlash against Subway over a chemical found in yoga mats shows how quickly brand damage can occur due to perceived risk.

### 💸 Equipment Damage
Stray current accelerates corrosion and shortens appliance life. Fixing the root cause early avoids costly future repairs.

Rob's Worldwide Stairlift Repairs already possesses the tools and expertise needed to diagnose and mitigate these issues:
- Oscilloscopes for waveform analysis
- Thermal imaging for hotspots
- Ground continuity testing
- Transformer recalibration
- Isolation upgrades

You are uniquely qualified to offer:
- Diagnostic surveys with instrumented reporting
- Mitigation strategies including GFCI protection, isolation transformers, and bonding upgrades
- Code compliance verification under CEC and NEC standards
- Legal and insurance documentation support

Business owners should care because:
- Their **workers and customers are at risk**
- They face **legal and financial exposure**
- Their **brand reputation is on the line**

Suggested approach when speaking to business owners:

“We’ve measured dangerous levels of AC current on touchable surfaces in local food service locations — some readings exceeded 28 mA. While no injuries have been reported yet, this level of current poses a real risk, especially when hands are wet or damp. Our team specializes in identifying and eliminating these types of hazards using advanced diagnostic tools. We can help you resolve the issue safely, quickly, and in full compliance with applicable codes — protecting your people, your property, and your brand.”

Final recommendations:
- Perform a full grounding and bonding audit
- Install GFCI or GFPE protection where needed
- Upgrade faulty equipment and power supplies
- Test after mitigation to verify safety
- Document everything for legal, insurance, and regulatory use

In summary, the presence of **AC stray current in food service environments** is a serious concern — made worse by **wet-skin exposure conditions** common in kitchens and customer areas.

Rob’s Worldwide Stairlift Repairs is uniquely positioned to help identify, document, and eliminate these hazards — not just for repair, but for **public safety, legal compliance, and liability reduction**.

By offering this service, you're not just fixing circuits — you're helping build safer, more responsible workplaces across Metro Vancouver.

---