A Timely reminder

[skipper]

I often read through the posts, but seldom write anything as there are so many contributors who are way, way cleverer than me. Reading this forum should be compulsory for all apprentice sparks!

However, I had an experience on Friday that I thought worth sharing.

I'm working on a block of 8 holiday apartments that are being refurbed, putting up lights and re-installing hard wired convector heaters in bedrooms.
Every apartment has, so far, had both bedroom heaters on a ring final with a 32A MCB. The entire CU is RCD protected.

So, I go into apartment 7, flick the MCB off, remove the unfused hard outlet from the double bedroom wall, verify that it's dead and replace it with a fused outlet and wire the new convector heater in.

Off to the single bedroom, pull the hard outlet which still has the old heater attached. I switch it on, no red light. Of course not, the breaker is off. I reach for my terminal screwdriver to undo the live. Damn, left it in the other bedroom. Reach into my pocket for my trusty old testing driver.....which promptly glows as soon as I touch the screw!

Somebody had swapped the hard outlet with a single socket outlet when the bedroom furniture had been moved around. The LED in the convector heater had failed, hence no warning light, but the outlet was live. Had I used my VDE driver to undo the terminals, my next step would have been to straighten the conductors between finger and thumb! OUCH!!!
One way of testing the RCD, I suppose.

We all try to work safely. Yes, I SHOULD have switched the main switch off, but when others are at work and need the lights on it's not realistic.
Doing repetitive work to a timescale, with other tradesmen present, can lead to a lapse in concentration.
I've learned from my near miss, and verify properly EVERY time. Hope everyone else does as well.

 

[Fred West]

This might be of interest to all you Fluke stick uses out there.

Noncontact Electrical Tester Recalled by Fluke Due to Shock or Burn Hazard

Not sure if you can get hold of this model in the UK.

 

[ian.settle1]

I often read through the posts, but seldom write anything as there are so many contributors who are way, way cleverer than me. Reading this forum should be compulsory for all apprentice sparks!

However, I had an experience on Friday that I thought worth sharing.

I'm working on a block of 8 holiday apartments that are being refurbed, putting up lights and re-installing hard wired convector heaters in bedrooms.
Every apartment has, so far, had both bedroom heaters on a ring final with a 32A MCB. The entire CU is RCD protected.

So, I go into apartment 7, flick the MCB off, remove the unfused hard outlet from the double bedroom wall, verify that it's dead and replace it with a fused outlet and wire the new convector heater in.

Off to the single bedroom, pull the hard outlet which still has the old heater attached. I switch it on, no red light. Of course not, the breaker is off. I reach for my terminal screwdriver to undo the live. Damn, left it in the other bedroom. Reach into my pocket for my trusty old testing driver.....which promptly glows as soon as I touch the screw!

Somebody had swapped the hard outlet with a single socket outlet when the bedroom furniture had been moved around. The LED in the convector heater had failed, hence no warning light, but the outlet was live. Had I used my VDE driver to undo the terminals, my next step would have been to straighten the conductors between finger and thumb! OUCH!!!
One way of testing the RCD, I suppose.

We all try to work safely. Yes, I SHOULD have switched the main switch off, but when others are at work and need the lights on it's not realistic.
Doing repetitive work to a timescale, with other tradesmen present, can lead to a lapse in concentration.
I've learned from my near miss, and verify properly EVERY time. Hope everyone else does as well.

Safe Isolation before starting work


Use a GS 38 test lamp and Proving unit


Then use lock out device with padlock


Never TRUST accessory neons

I use my fluke volt stick all the time, it's always in my pocket but I always try and prove it on something live first.

Unless I can touch the terminals with a GS38 test lamp would not believe it, have an accident and HSE are involved you are looking at at a very large fine

I often read through the posts, but seldom write anything as there are so many contributors who are way, way cleverer than me. Reading this forum should be compulsory for all apprentice sparks!

However, I had an experience on Friday that I thought worth sharing.

I'm working on a block of 8 holiday apartments that are being refurbed, putting up lights and re-installing hard wired convector heaters in bedrooms.
Every apartment has, so far, had both bedroom heaters on a ring final with a 32A MCB. The entire CU is RCD protected.

So, I go into apartment 7, flick the MCB off, remove the unfused hard outlet from the double bedroom wall, verify that it's dead and replace it with a fused outlet and wire the new convector heater in.

Off to the single bedroom, pull the hard outlet which still has the old heater attached. I switch it on, no red light. Of course not, the breaker is off. I reach for my terminal screwdriver to undo the live. Damn, left it in the other bedroom. Reach into my pocket for my trusty old testing driver.....which promptly glows as soon as I touch the screw!

Somebody had swapped the hard outlet with a single socket outlet when the bedroom furniture had been moved around. The LED in the convector heater had failed, hence no warning light, but the outlet was live. Had I used my VDE driver to undo the terminals, my next step would have been to straighten the conductors between finger and thumb! OUCH!!!
One way of testing the RCD, I suppose.

We all try to work safely. Yes, I SHOULD have switched the main switch off, but when others are at work and need the lights on it's not realistic.
Doing repetitive work to a timescale, with other tradesmen present, can lead to a lapse in concentration.
I've learned from my near miss, and verify properly EVERY time. Hope everyone else does as well.

What is a HARD OUTLET when it is at home?