Lots of rules are written to cover the Worst case scenario and yet people always find a worse, worst case to base a new rule upon. How one person behaves is no guarantee the next person will as well. So working space rules are developed so emergency workers have ready access or the electrician is safe.
I had an inspection based on a complaint that the meter reader could not get safe access to the meters.
I went to the owner and ordered him to remove the boxes of beer bottles stored in the electrical room. The owner just moved them outside until I inspected and the meters were read. About 6 or 7 weeks later the utility again asked me to order the removal of materials from the electrical room. Instead of repeating our previous performance. Same beer bottles and some more to boot I ordered the power off the building. within and hour the tenants started complaining and by the next morning the power was on and the beer bottles went to the recycling store where the landlord managed enough money to pay the re-connection charge. The owner had no explanation as to why he put the bottles back and agreed that he should have moved them to the van he owns instead of just moving them 3 times.
I have not gotten any more complaints from the meter reader.
