The Perils of <100% Socket Testing

[SW1970]

Sad news reported yesterday..

Plumber, 23, died in 'wiring blunder' | This is Bristol
I know it's gone through the media filter but I'm pretty certain my testing would have revealed reversed L and E on a socket.

 

[telectrix]

looks like the socket may have been hidden from sight when the testing was carried out, and missed . a simple socket&see would have shown the fault, but , as has been posted on various threads, a spur can easily be missed.e.g. when testing for an IR fault. just shows that it pays to be ultra thorough when testing.

 

[JamesBrownLive]

Surely if you are doing IV testing, you would have a plan/details of the work that had been undertaken and would be working to that.
i.e. You should blinking well know how many sockets had been installed.

 

[telectrix]

it is not clear from the report whether this was a new installation or not. the socket could have been like that for some time. perhaps hidden from view.

 

[JamesBrownLive]

it is not clear from the report whether this was a new installation or not. the socket could have been like that for some time. perhaps hidden from view.

I guess I just assumed when the news article stated 'being developed by' and then the name of the company, that this was a new install.

 

[Octopus]

How many homes/buildings have you been in, especially the older ones, where sockets have been added in unconventional ways in unconventional positions?

Its a very sad day and I hope that such a situation never happens to me.

 

[telectrix]

I guess I just assumed when the news article stated 'being developed by' and then the name of the company, that this was a new install.

might have been a kitchen refurb, and the socket was existing. hidden away behind the washing machine.

 

[drew35]

That is bad, but I wonder if its partly due to a company cracking the whip over time taken, the same company that will now wash its hands of that employee. He could well have tested that point and not picked up on the fault. As it was a spur, testing the ring wouldn't of shown it, neither would insulation resistance. I could see them connecting line and earth at the board and just doing an R1+R2 test at the socket, as it was reversed he got the same reading. No test of polarity, or visual check done, and no function test with a socket tester. I wonder what it said on the certificate in the box, "points served". I am sure that the person responsible is living in a world of poo!

 

[IQ Electrical]

That is bad, but I wonder if its partly due to a company cracking the whip over time taken, the same company that will now wash its hands of that employee. He could well have tested that point and not picked up on the fault. As it was a spur, testing the ring wouldn't of shown it, neither would insulation resistance. I could see them connecting line and earth at the board and just doing an R1+R2 test at the socket, as it was reversed he got the same reading. No test of polarity, or visual check done, and no function test with a socket tester. I wonder what it said on the certificate in the box, "points served". I am sure that the person responsible is living in a world of poo!

Assuming initial verification, how would testing the ring not have shown it when every 'outlet' must be tested-on the 'step 2' line-neutral interconnection test, what reading would you expect at that outlet if there was a L-E cross?

This has slipped through 2 checks-the visual by the guy that connected the outlet and the testing by the 'competent' inspector, pretty poor and very sad.

 

[johnboy6083]

IMO, the person installing that socket needs shooting. Its not an easy mistake to make, and you should double check everything you do.
I nearly crossed two phases on a big panel yesterday, as the DNO head, was in a different order to the ACB. Good job, i followed the tails by hand and checked it. Complacency kills people.

 

[oxocube]

This has slipped through 2 checks-the visual by the guy that connected the outlet and the testing by the 'competent' inspector, pretty poor and very sad.

That was my thought, two bits of careless workmanship and a young dad gets killed, appalling.

 

[telectrix]

which also brings to mind, why is it that if you get 3 different makes of socket, there's 3 different layouts of the terminals. why aren't they standardised. and secondly, why do you need a magnifying glass to read the terminal IDs.

 

[Engineer54]

which also brings to mind, why is it that if you get 3 different makes of socket, there's 3 different layouts of the terminals. why aren't they standardised. and secondly, why do you need a magnifying glass to read the terminal IDs.

Quite agree with you there Tel. If they standardised, say the L to always be positioned on the right and the N always on the left, it would soon become second nature to all electricians....

There is always those electricians though, that need those thick pebble lens glasses just to distinguish left from right, let alone be able to see the L, E, and the N designations for the terminals!! lol!!!

 

[PC Electrics]

It will be interesting to see what the inquest verdict will be.

 

[telectrix]

Quite agree with you there Tel. If they standardised, say the L to always be positioned on the right and the N always on the left, it would soon become second nature to all electricians....

There is always those electricians though, that need those thick pebble lens glasses just to distinguish left from right, let alone be able to see the L, E, and the N designations for the terminals!! lol!!!

my eyes get any worse, they'll have to etch them in braille.LOL.