Hmmmm.....ok this story is from way back in 1981...as a new green apprentice with a shiny new pouch and tools. I had less than four months on the job when my employer accepted a labor only contract from (nameless government contractor).
(Nameless government contractor) had recieved a hugh increase in orders to deliver both communication and fire control computers for the navy. This would require an expansion of thier plant and a cure for the bottleneck of testing such systems. (they could build them much faster than they could go through the 7 step testing process.).
My trusty journeyman at the time was an air cargo pilot by trade who filled in sometimes as an electrician when things were very slow. Said journeyman worked everything hot by choice even when it was unneeded and expected you to do the same. His response when you got knocked onto your butt from current was not to inquire how you were but rather to ask..."well..do you know what you did wrong?"
I have to admit that this darwin style learning process definately motivated me to learn all that was possible about my job conditions as shortly as possible.
Anyway...I suppose I should tell a story instead of continueing on about my....err...glory days. (LOL)
The plant of (Nameless government contractor) had a master electrician and three journeyman on the payroll. During one part of the project we were to remove the feeds to seven 200a 480V compressors so that they could be removed and replaced with two 600a 480v centrifigal compressors of a newer more efficient type.
I remember being up on a manlift with a sawzall cutting two inch conduits with the conductors in them up into manageble lengths. I also remember yelling 35 feet to the ground to the master electrician in charge of the job...."this conduit?"
I had to lean up out of the manlift standing on the lower gaurdrails and resting the left side of my lower chest across a 6" sprinkler to reach the conduit with a sawzall.
"This pipe?" I yell down again before starting cutting, I recieve an affirmitive from below. You all can guess what happened.....the conduit I was attempting to cut was live..
There is a fairly small visible flash but the noise is like a double barrel shotgun going off right next to my head. Enough current flows through me to leave bright red burns on the left side of my ribcage where I am touching the sprinkler pipe. The sawzall gaurd is welded to the conduit and requires a three pound hammer to knock it loose once I recover my senses. My ears ring for almost three weeks and I become 1st person famaliar with the phrase.."What?...say that again?"
Thus the importance of lock-out tag-out and verifying them yourself......
(it is a service call since it was a labor only contract right?) ????
Last edited by ausador; 12/14/07 01:02 AM.
