Yes, 347v flor's are horrible to work on, especially at Public Works facilities, and even more so off a ladder.
Last week, due to security reasons (even tho were cleared 'secret') we were not allowed to do the fixture bouncing after hours, which meant power cldn't be interupted.
As an 'apprentice' I refuse to do anything outside of whats deemed 'safe and proper', so needless to say when asked to just go in a bounce a few fixtures I said sure, expecting a simple, relocate the fixture still connected in the ceiling grid and rechain them.
Wrong!!!! The 1st fixture I attempt gives off that scary hummmmmmmmmm when I moved it. Pulled my hands away as it gave off its own lil liteshow, called my supervisor and told him I refuse to touch any of the system live!!!
Well doesn't he come down to the site to show me I'm wrong, lol, and the same happens to him (also lucky not to get hit from the fixture).
So he decides to go to the JB and disconnect that area. All I can say is who-ever authorized the ceiling grid should have been shot for not requesting electrical alterations. EVERY JB was over a grid cross with only about 3" clearance below the open box, data wires all over the place, and venting obstructing safe mannouvering.
Not to forget... who-ever installed this electrical mayday shld also be shot... there isn't a single joint (120/208/347) in the entire building that when you remove the marrets that the wires don't spring apart.
So Mr Bigshot (supervisor) tackles it anyways as I stand below watching at the floor level. Needless to say, as he removed that 1st marret he got energized.
And as this was my first time seeing someone hit with more than 120 I can only say I hope its my last. The look of fear and pain as somebody is hung up would scare the bejesus out of a hardened soul.
I kicked the ladder out from under him, he separated and hit the ground in a curled up tearing fashion. I asked if he was ok, checked for burns, but found no entry nor exit anywhere. And for that, he was VERY lucky as the hot connected with his hand, and he was unknowling grouded at the back on his neck with a BX.
Once he settled down, and was able to get up, and seemed ok, I quietly packed my tools up, called a cab, told him he is a dumbass and too dangerous to work with and to call me when PW is willing to shut the floor lighting down at the panel and consider themselves lucky I don't call the authorities for putting me at jeopardy.
Next day got called in, appologized profusely, and told I wld never be put in or asked to perform in a hazardess manner again.
I'll tell you guys, especially the newbe's out there, watch out for yourselves and use YOUR OWN common sense because I think a lot of the seasoned journey men out there are so used to encountering these types of routines that they tend to fear less as they do the mondane tasks asked of them.
And I'm sorry, I never have trusted a person with a holier than thou additude when it comes to proceedures or safetly and more importantly when it deals with electricity and MY life.
Sorry for rambling or hyjacking people, it was just still fresh in my mind and wanted to put it on paper so to speak.
-Greg aka: don't kill me with stupidity
