not the sharpest tool in the box is he?
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You mean that's not the right way to do it
Just like some of the film in the cinema (or on TV) - OK as long as you aren't too critical.
He's holding the tool with both hands, so no current will flow across the body. He's not very well earthed, so not much would flow anyway. So technically "taking a few liberties".
That reminds me of an incident a mate told me. He's in his 50s, been a sparkie all his working life, etc. But a couple of years ago he told me how they all had to go to the mandatory safety talks - and ripped the speaker apart. The speaker introduced a scenario a bit like that film - someone has collapsed due to electric shock from the portable tool he's using, but had to keep adding "but ..." clauses. I think he said it went something like ...
So how are you going to rescue him without getting a shock yourself ?
Unplug the tool first.
Ah. But you can't get to the plug, it's in another room.
But hand tools are only allowed to have a 2m flex.
Hmm, now moving on ...
I think the moral of the tale is - don't try and teach people who know more about the subject than you do
Get insulated cutters from toolbox and cut through the live flex.
I think the moral of the tale is - don't try and teach people who know more about the subject than you do
But what the clever clogs obviously didn't realise was the fact that the presentation at least made them think about it !
You don't have to be an expert to point out the obvious.
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What!? And damage my cutters!!
These days from what I've heard, someone is more likely to pull out a smart phone and start filming for YouTube!
Aye, it does rather make a mess of them doesn't it
I've still got a pair of pliers here somewhere with a good notch in the cutter thanks to a long ago apprentice cutting something he shouldn't have. Can't remember just how it happened.
From exercises I've been on, the question was probably intended to spark off the various suggestions - don't touch him until safe - push it away with a wooden broom-handle - use the EPO button - turn off the main switch - shout to the control room - pull him by his cotton overalls - kick him with my rubber boots - etc. It all depends what is available.
On one exercise I did, the "casualty" was sprawled over a metal step-ladder, where one foot had slipped off the insulating rubber mat. Several people ran in and grabbed the ladder. They could have tugged the mat and pulled him away from the gear.
Well then get his cutters out of his toolbox...Aye, it does rather make a mess of them doesn't it
He won't thank you for it. "What do you mean, you saved my life ... look at the state of my cutters"
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Probably a bit late replying to this thread now,But I can remember a friend told me that one of his mates couple years ago got a shock from 240v he said he felt fine then went to bed that night and never woke up!. Just because you get an electric shock and it doesn't kill straight away doesn't mean it won't kill you a few hours or days later.
I've heard of several such cases over the years, in which the heart appears, superficially, to recover normal rhythm but the current has had some deeper phsysiological effect which causes it to go into severe arhythmia or fibrillation hours later. I understand that at least in some instances an ECG carried out after a shock which has affected the heart can show the warning signs, even if the person feels fine.
K
kai
I see people secure a link between the Output of the relevant circuit breaker and the earthing bar immediately above it in the board, whenever works are performed on a circuit, to let them do an R1 and R2 measurement at the completion of the works in hand. Of course there is a useful ancillary function - if someone tries to turn on the breaker, they will be effectively making contact with a dead short against the earth bar!
I prefer to take the live out of the MCB and put it directly into the earth barI see people secure a link between the Output of the relevant circuit breaker and the earthing bar immediately above it in the board, whenever works are performed on a circuit, to let them do an R1 and R2 measurement at the completion of the works in hand. Of course there is a useful ancillary function - if someone tries to turn on the breaker, they will be effectively making contact with a dead short against the earth bar!
It can happen, although is pretty rare. Only a massive shock, which would probably kill immediately, would be able to do any physical damage to the heart. However, what can, and sometimes does, happen is that the initial shock may trigger a 'minor' (and asymptomatic) arrhythmia, which persists, and then after a day or four 'transforms' into to a lethal one (like ventricular fibrillation) - all that being far more common in someone whose heart was not in perfect condition to start with. In such cases, as you say, an ECG performed during that 'latent period' would show the 'minor arrhythmia', which might be able to be treated or terminated before it had a chance to transform into something nastier, and possibly lethal.
However, as I said, it's very rare (let's face it, the total number of UK deaths attributed to electric shock per year is not that far into double figures!) and, given that heart attacks and sudden cardiac deaths are very common, particularly in some age groups, at least some of the reports of deaths occurring a few days after an electric shock are probably pure co-incidence.
Kind Regards, John
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