Probably a stupid thing, but knowing what is going to happen next during a job is one of my top priorities.
I've been doing a fair bit of 33kV Live Glove and Barrier work lately and I know to stop "dead" when asked by a fellow Line-Mechanic, what happens next.
Sure this sounds silly with voltages of 120-240-277-480, or does it?.
Know what it is you are working with guys, if you don't know, ask someone that does.
Sure you might sound like an idiot at the time, but the biggest idiot, gets hit with something he never expected.

Stay safe guys.


Mike.

Guys,
I was taken aside on a job-site today by a new Apprentice working for a Sparkie here in town.
I was there making sure that there was room to put a pole and transformer up.
Anyway, one of the builders actually told me of this guy and we went and sat in my truck during Lunch.
He was a little concerned at the "Electrician's" method of finding circuits in this new house that was under construction.
After he told me, I wanted to run in there and..... well need I say more.
Upshot of it all, was the Electrician would liven a breaker and the Apprentice would touch the Phase and Neutral wires together and if there was a flash the Electrician would know he had the right circuit.
I went and had a quiet word with the Electrician and found out he had no Practicing Licence, to do the work in the first place.
By then one of the Inspectors had turned up, I left it to him.
I'm glad the young fella actually had a chat with me, this guy could have killed someone!.
Sorry about the rant, but....

Shorting is probably the LEAST safe method of locating a circuit.

Dave