Electric Shock Risk for Thermocouple Measurement in Induction Furnaces

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Measuring temperature in aluminium induction furnaces using thermocouples poses a potential electric shock risk due to the melt acting as a transformer coil with mass currents. However, the consensus is that these systems are typically double insulated, minimizing the risk of shock for operators. The analogy of birds on power lines illustrates that without a closed circuit, the risk is negligible. Additionally, in smelting systems, insulated buss bars carrying high currents can be safely walked on. Overall, proper insulation and system design significantly reduce electric shock hazards in these environments.
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Where I work, we have a lot of aluminium induction furnaces. The guys measure the temperature of the melt using a thermocouple straight in. The melt is effectively a single winding of a transformer coil hich has mass currents flowing through it to melt the metal. The guys who stick the thermocouple in, are they at risk of electric shock?
 
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From my experience with control systems for smelting plants, I believe that everything is typically double insulated so that this risk of shock is avoided. One way I was taught to think of it is kind of like birds on power lines. If the circuit isn't closed, there is no risk of shock. As a fun side-note, in smelting systems, it is not uncommon for buss bars carrying several Amperes of current to be walked on due to everything being insulated.
 

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