Since I last posted on this issue, I have had the opportunity, for the first time, to work in a prison.
As other described, prison staff mainly supervised inmates in the performance of maintenance tasks. What was ironic was when I found that, of the four 'inmate electricians,' three were former employees of mine- and the fourth was from the parts house! I wondered why they just stopped coming to work....
I cannot speak as to other prisons, but this one certainly has qualified help. :-)
As for "multi-tasking"... it is true that trades are, by their nature, specialised. It is also true that a union environment can really make for some sily work rules. Ask any musician who's tried to plug in a radio at Carnegie Hall.... such 'work' is reserved for Union electricians!
(How does one get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice....)
My idea of electrical work also includes a fair amount of digging, rigging, plastering, some carpentry.... and the lines really get fuzzy when HVAC, alarms, data, phone, or anything with wires is involved! A problem only arises when I lack the tools, training, and competence to do the job; pity the fool who expects me to weld!
