Complacency

[Specialist]

Not alarms true but can happen anywhere. Some friends of mine build and install motorised Security gates. They were on a job yesterday where the supply cable for their gates were installed by a local "Electrician" but had to be moved as it was on the wrong side of the gate, they were told that it was connected to the garage fusebox and isolated.

Where the cable came out of the ground there was about 500mm sticking up with bare ends. So they drill a hole through the concrete post and without bothering to check that the cable was dead (They have the kit to do so and have been taught how to use it), they go to feed it through the post. One almighty bang & a load of sparks later, they discover that the cable was already connected to a 16a breaker in the garage consumer unit & this was turned on.

Now the Electrician was in the wrong for leaving the cable live and the ends sticking sticking out bare, but the gate fitters complacency over safety could have got one of them killed.

Always check & double check that a mains cable is dead before touching it people, if your in any doubt then call a Decent Electrician.

Edited July 13, 2019 by Specialist

[sixwheeledbeast]

As you say there was complacency on both sides there.

It could have been that the circuit was switched off but not properly isolated and someone else has switched it on.

When you see an un-terminated cable you expect it to be dead especially if someone has told you it should be dead.

 

As people that work with electrics regularly know it's your responsibility to always check for dead ideally with a voltage tester, it's always when you get complacent that these incidents happen.

 

[Specialist]

Totally agree with you mate you would expect the cable to be Dead in those circumstances. To be honest it came as a bit of a shock how complacent they've become over Electrical safety and to be honest safety in general, especially as I've drummed it into them so often. Hopefully this will be the wake up call needed.

Edited July 13, 2019 by Specialist

[al-yeti]

I say electricians fault, wiring should be prepped but not connected , although some would leave the netural and earth connected just to make a point 

[Specialist]

4 minutes ago, al-yeti said:

I say electricians fault, wiring should be prepped but not connected , although some would leave the netural and earth connected just to make a point 

Yes mate agreed, the Electrician should have made sure that the cable was dead and safe. At the end of the day though, final responsibility for our own safety lies on our shoulders. It only takes a couple of minutes with an approved tester to make sure things are safe.

[graeme stringer]

As a NICEIC / ECA registered member it does fall on the electrical contractor. as turning a MCB off at the CU does not constitute safe isolation. On the other side you have the gate installer and they would not be out of the woods as any work carried out on electrical system should be checked that the circuit is not energised as per BS7671