what was your most dangerous job peeps

[bonjovi]

I had 2 first was a well known pottery place in Derbyshire I had done the work and now my job was to power it up ,the company I was working for said now the tails are at the busbar your job is to connect this up , but the problem was you cannot switch it off as it takes 24hr to power up again and get the kilns up to temp before they can start using them , a shed load of money if switched off .
so heres a thick rubber matt and some gloves a vet would be thankfull for , well I was sweating the bus bars were humming , this involved for peeps who dont know using a ratchet metal on one side (live by the way) and a ring spanner on the other to tighten the nut holding the lug ..
and to get to the back nut putting my hand through the live busbars that were buzzing without touching the 2 other conducting copper bars ,,,well all went well for the first 2 then I dropped the spanner shorted blue and neutral , one almighty bang a flame shot up and I turned away ,I could not see as the blast turned everything yellow and I did not know which way to walk to get away from panel as I could be walking into live bars as sometimes as a spark sometimes its still live after a blow so I just stood there screaming untill someone came , no need to worry about that as it knocked power off to the whole building ,that was before hs came into the industry .I ended up at night in hospital as the blast had give me arc eye and I had to have my eyes scrapped as the film just rolled up on my eyes horrendous experience never again would I work live after that

 

[telectrix]

working on a factory crane, 3 phase. 20ft. up a ladder. live unshrouded busbars. the 3 fuses were in my pocket. notice on DB "sparks working etc.".d1ck head of a foreman got 3 new fuses from stores, and put them in. ladder blasted into bits, i'm hanging off the roof girders, the idiot was sacked same day.

 

[bonjovi]

working on a factory crane, 3 phase. 20ft. up a ladder. live unshrouded busbars. the 3 fuses were in my pocket. notice on DB "sparks working etc.".d1ck head of a foreman got 3 new fuses from stores, and put them in. ladder blasted into bits, i'm hanging off the roof girders, the idiot was sacked same day.

jesus thats as bad as mine

 

[Pete999]

I had 2 first was a well known pottery place in Derbyshire I had done the work and now my job was to power it up ,the company I was working for said now the tails are at the busbar your job is to connect this up , but the problem was you cannot switch it off as it takes 24hr to power up again and get the kilns up to temp before they can start using them , a shed load of money if switched off .
so heres a thick rubber matt and some gloves a vet would be thankfull for , well I was sweating the bus bars were humming , this involved for peeps who dont know using a ratchet metal on one side (live by the way) and a ring spanner on the other to tighten the nut holding the lug ..
and to get to the back nut putting my hand through the live busbars that were buzzing without touching the 2 other conducting copper bars ,,,well all went well for the first 2 then I dropped the spanner shorted blue and neutral , one almighty bang a flame shot up and I turned away ,I could not see as the blast turned everything yellow and I did not know which way to walk to get away from panel as I could be walking into live bars as sometimes as a spark sometimes its still live after a blow so I just stood there screaming untill someone came , no need to worry about that as it knocked power off to the whole building ,that was before hs came into the industry .I ended up at night in hospital as the blast had give me arc eye and I had to have my eyes scrapped as the film just rolled up on my eyes horrendous experience never again would I work live after that

Sorry Mate, you know the rules, your fault for not arranging a shut down and attempting to do the work live, down to you no sympathy whatsoever. A lesson learned the hard way I'm afraid, done some daft things in my time, but not poncing around in a live Busbar chamber.

 

[Sintra]

I’ve had to drill live bars back in the day with a 110V drill. Rubber mat rubber gloves and a lump of wood behind the bars in case the bit went in to far and hit the casing. Luckily no mishaps.

 

[Lister1987]

I had 2 first was a well known pottery place in Derbyshire I had done the work and now my job was to power it up ,the company I was working for said now the tails are at the busbar your job is to connect this up , but the problem was you cannot switch it off as it takes 24hr to power up again and get the kilns up to temp before they can start using them , a shed load of money if switched off .
so heres a thick rubber matt and some gloves a vet would be thankfull for , well I was sweating the bus bars were humming , this involved for peeps who dont know using a ratchet metal on one side (live by the way) and a ring spanner on the other to tighten the nut holding the lug ..
and to get to the back nut putting my hand through the live busbars that were buzzing without touching the 2 other conducting copper bars ,,,well all went well for the first 2 then I dropped the spanner shorted blue and neutral , one almighty bang a flame shot up and I turned away ,I could not see as the blast turned everything yellow and I did not know which way to walk to get away from panel as I could be walking into live bars as sometimes as a spark sometimes its still live after a blow so I just stood there screaming untill someone came , no need to worry about that as it knocked power off to the whole building ,that was before hs came into the industry .I ended up at night in hospital as the blast had give me arc eye and I had to have my eyes scrapped as the film just rolled up on my eyes horrendous experience never again would I work live after that

As Pete999 said, ultimately you might lose the job, but rather that than eyesight/life etc

 

[bonjovi]

yep as I was just 21 and just out my time and the bosses told me this is your job and it has to be done what was a fresh faced young lad to do .my bosses were my livelihood and my wages .nowdays you would not even think about it ,im not saying it was big or clever im just reeling of my experiences as a common or garden spark if more people reply you might find this was not uncommon in the day early 80s .. there was a lot of non health and safety in those days stuff we would not dream of nowdays ,nowdays if your wearing the wrong boots not midsole or ankle protection your not coming on site ,so dont think to harsh

 

[Robson689]

Probably extending the earth nest on a 400kv substation upgrade. Had to wear all sorts of HV related PPE as the substation was still live.

 

[bonjovi]

Probably extending the earth nest on a 400kv substation upgrade. Had to wear all sorts of HV related PPE as the substation was still live.

it was not uncommon how we all survived to tell the tale it was make hs as it is now

 

[Moley]

Working in live 400Kv subs in a cherry picker always keeps me on my toes

 

[Pete999]

AP/HV duties, got called to isolate a leg of a HV ring to allow contractors to install a new 11KV sub station.
Identified and isolated, the cable that needed spiking agreed with Contractors that I Had the correct cable, fitted spiking gun all ready, along came Mr Spotty from HQ, contractor looked at I looked at him, no words were exchanged, the look was all that was needed.
The ensuing argument forced me to cancel the Permit, transfer AP duties to Mr Spotty, who refitted the spike to the live cable, this caused me to hide behind the pile of spoil from the trench, furtive looks of uncertainty followed as I took my contractors with me, to take cover, matey pulled the land yard, which drove the cold chisel in the spike into 11KV, silence apart from the initial short circuit noise, and silence as the fault tripped the OCB at the intake sub, can't explain what occurred nest as we were all locked un a room for the debrief, I was exonerated, Mr Spotty got the biggest cussing of his life AP ticket revoked, a quick change of underwear on my part, new day tomorrow.

 

[bonjovi]

AP/HV duties, got called to isolate a leg of a HV ring to allow contractors to install a new 11KV sub station.
Identified and isolated, the cable that needed spiking agreed with Contractors that I Had the correct cable, fitted spiking gun all ready, along came Mr Spotty from HQ, contractor looked at I looked at him, no words were exchanged, the look was all that was needed.
The ensuing argument forced me to cancel the Permit, transfer AP duties to Mr Spotty, who refitted the spike to the live cable, this caused me to hide behind the pile of spoil from the trench, furtive looks of uncertainty followed as I took my contractors with me, to take cover, matey pulled the land yard, which drove the cold chisel in the spike into 11KV, silence apart from the initial short circuit noise, and silence as the fault tripped the OCB at the intake sub, can't explain what occurred nest as we were all locked un a room for the debrief, I was exonerated, Mr Spotty got the biggest cussing of his life AP ticket revoked, a quick change of underwear on my part, new day tomorrow.

yep we all have them and all live to tell the tale

 

[littlespark]

I once screwed in a lightbulb with the switch was on.
It’s was bloody hot
Next time I’ll use a locking off kit, rubber gloves and a quick prayer.

 

[davesparks]

I had 2 first was a well known pottery place in Derbyshire I had done the work and now my job was to power it up ,the company I was working for said now the tails are at the busbar your job is to connect this up , but the problem was you cannot switch it off as it takes 24hr to power up again and get the kilns up to temp before they can start using them , a shed load of money if switched off .
so heres a thick rubber matt and some gloves a vet would be thankfull for , well I was sweating the bus bars were humming , this involved for peeps who dont know using a ratchet metal on one side (live by the way) and a ring spanner on the other to tighten the nut holding the lug ..
and to get to the back nut putting my hand through the live busbars that were buzzing without touching the 2 other conducting copper bars ,,,well all went well for the first 2 then I dropped the spanner shorted blue and neutral , one almighty bang a flame shot up and I turned away ,I could not see as the blast turned everything yellow and I did not know which way to walk to get away from panel as I could be walking into live bars as sometimes as a spark sometimes its still live after a blow so I just stood there screaming untill someone came , no need to worry about that as it knocked power off to the whole building ,that was before hs came into the industry .I ended up at night in hospital as the blast had give me arc eye and I had to have my eyes scrapped as the film just rolled up on my eyes horrendous experience never again would I work live after that

Drilling and connecting onto live busbars is pretty straightforward task if you follow a safe system of work with the correct equipment and protections.
It would probably work out cheaper just to plan the shutdown in your particular case though.

 

[rapparee]

Something like this.

Only a smaller forklift, which was very skittish at the back.

 

[ruston]

Something like this.

Only a smaller forklift, which was very skittish at the back.

In that particular instance the most dangerous part is that there is no one in the forklift in control.

 

[ruston]

Duplicate.

 

[telectrix]

In that particular instance the most dangerous part is that there is no one in the forklift in control.

probably safer that way than having a hairy arsed, brain dead FLT driver anywhere near.

 

[rapparee]

probably safer that way than having a hairy arsed, brain dead FLT driver anywhere near.

I was actually long ways in the MEWP and it was fully extended out. So when I walked out to the edge it was sort of bouncing.

The forks were not fully under the MEWP either, there was about 2ft between the mast of the flt and the MEWP

Also the fork lift driver was stoned. He was the only one I could talk into doing it.

 

[bonjovi]

Something like this.

Only a smaller forklift, which was very skittish at the back.

jesus that looks scary

 

[bonjovi]

I was actually long ways in the MEWP and it was fully extended out. So when I walked out to the edge it was sort of bouncing.

The forks were not fully under the MEWP either, there was about 2ft between the mast of the flt and the MEWP

Also the fork lift driver was stoned. He was the only one I could talk into doing it.

thanks guys I dont feel as bad now hahahhaa

 

[Intoelectrics]

Many years back I installed a RJS beam into a roof space. The only problem was the scissor lift was an old knackered one which had no weight limiter on it and it was 2mtrs short of reaching where we needed to go. Our boss at the time was too tight to pay for the correct access and lifting equipment, I was 17 and naive. We strapped a couple of tall sets of step ladders inside the scissors lift carriage at each end, stood on the rungs with the very heavy beam rested on our shoulders as my boss operated the lift from below. It creaked and strained with the weight and only just went up, it was rocking really badly from the loose scissor joints. We then had to lift the beam over our heads into position off as we ascended the steps to the next to top rung, no harness no ropes just luck and good balance.
Crazy when I think back!

 

[telectrix]

half a bottle of Jack Daniels, and i would do that. coz. when you fall, it don't hurt till next day.

 

[Midwest]

Telling the Missus, she dyed her hair a stupid colour.

 

[oracle]

Telling the Missus, she dyed her hair a stupid colour.

Rather play in traffic than try that on my missus

 

[Pete999]

Drilling and connecting onto live busbars is pretty straightforward task if you follow a safe system of work with the correct equipment and protections.
It would probably work out cheaper just to plan the shutdown in your particular case though.

Never work live!!!! Not worth your life or anyone elses, get a grip Son

 

[bonjovi]

how many of you guys back in the day remember having to walk along purlings dragging cables in without a harness ,it was common practice where I was a pup

 

[telectrix]

how many of you guys back in the day remember having to walk along purlings dragging cables in without a harness ,it was common practice where I was a pup

you walked the purlins.... lucky sod... we had to swing from them, both arms in use, cables tied to our feet.. had to use teeth to pull cables into place.

 

[rapparee]

how many of you guys back in the day remember having to walk along purlings dragging cables in without a harness ,it was common practice where I was a pup

I've been there.

The glory of a Friday afternoon when the H&S officer is away home.

It's not that bad in fairness.

 

[Bobster]

Never work live!!!! Not worth your life or anyone elses, get a grip Son

Disagree with this Pete, there's a time and a place.

However it is rare, and shouldn't be done by someone who's not had proper training.

I've connected and drilled live bus bars before. With all the procedures in place I wouldn't have said it was dangerous, sure there was still a risk. This is reduced with correct tools, PPE and methodology.

After all, cable jointer's work live most days for the DNO.

As to the thread, I think my most dangerous experience was working on a remote silo, during a thunderstorm. Got down pretty sharpish once I felt the hair on my arms an neck stand up. Was a strange feeling.

 

[Pete999]

Disagree with this Pete, there's a time and a place.

However it is rare, and shouldn't be done by someone who's had proper training.

I've connected and drilled live bus bars before. With all the procedures in place I wouldn't have said it was dangerous, sure there was still a risk. This is reduced with correct tools, PPE and methodology.

After all, cable jointer's work live most days for the DNO.

As to the thread, I think my most dangerous experience was working on a remote silo, during a thunderstorm. Got down pretty sharpish once I felt the hair on my arms an neck stand up. Was a strange feeling.

No worries Rob none at all. You make a valid point

 

[Intoelectrics]

Sometimes is not the most dangerous jobs that catch people out with accidents and injuries. When you are aware of the high risk and danger, you tend to focus and concentrate much more especially if you know the potential risk with one mistake is death.
I've seen many accidents, some very serious where the person wasn't expecting the risk/danger to be that bad so they have been a little more carefree and over confident resulting in less concentration and focus which in turn allowed them to be caught out.
This happened to me 30 years ago and the resulting injury cost me the loss of part of my left thumb.

 

[Midwest]

Many years ago, I worked on large industrial project at a car factory. We used the long arm cherry pickers to access work areas.

As a jolly jape, it was practise to drop the cage/cab suddenly, using the base controls, whilst the user was unawares in the cage. Had it done to me a few times, frightened the life out of me. Decided to do it myself one day, and the fellow sparks came down and berated me for being stupid & very dangerous behaviour. In those days, nobody did any formal training in them, & usually operated them on your own.

Literally a few days later, the same guy was reversing the dame thing on his own, when he got wedged between a large steel beam and the cab. His foot was kept on the dead man switch. He unfortunately died.

Needless to say, things changed after that, as well as my attitude to health & safety. He was only in his early twenties.

 

[Simon47]

... your job is to connect this up , but the problem was you cannot switch it off ...

Someone I was at school with very nearly died through contact with live bars - stories said 11kV, but that doesn't fit with other details. He was very badly burned and nearly died. I don't know the details, but from what I can make out it was supposed to be switched off and had been tested to be dead - then between verifying it was dead and my schoolmate sticking his hands in, a generator fired up. It completely changed his life and his temperament. He's covered in very obvious burn injuries.

I ended up at night in hospital as the blast had give me arc eye and I had to have my eyes scrapped as the film just rolled up on my eyes horrendous experience never again would I work live after that

You were lucky. A while sgo I came across a website setup by a guy that only just survived when his phase rotation meter exploded and caused a flashover. He now campaigns to raise awareness - not least of the need for proper PPE which would have vastly reduced his injuries. Can't find it right now.

 

[Lister1987]

A while sgo I came across a website setup by a guy that only just survived when his phase rotation meter exploded and caused a flashover. He now campaigns to raise awareness - not least of the need for proper PPE which would have vastly reduced his injuries. Can't find it right now.

Donnie's Accident

E-mail: [email protected]

www.donniesaccident.com

That should be it

 

[Simon47]

Yes, that's the one. Should be mandatory viewing/reading before anyone is let loose with electrickery.
Note what he found out about the meter AFTER the accident.

Back to bonjovi's incident ...
While it shoukd almost certainly have been a switch off job, he should have been using sutable tools. As an apprentice, I worked briefly in the shore battery room for a well known submarine manufacturer in Cumbria. This was a big battery - we're talking capacity measured in thousands of AHr and hunfreds of volts, so I thinknyou can imagine the sort of arc energy possible.
We had a set of customised spannets/ sockets where the whole tool was encased in Paxolin except for the working faces that fitted the bolt heads. Bonjovi should have been given similar tool for the job if live wirking couldn't be avoided.

 

[Lister1987]

We had a set of customised spannets/ sockets where the whole tool was encased in Paxo.

If the encasement failed, were you...stuffed?