Whats the worst shock ( Electrical ) you have received and how ?

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Discuss Whats the worst shock ( Electrical ) you have received and how ? in the UK Electrical Forum area at ElectriciansForums.net

During the war ...................... no start again.

Back in the winter of discontent ( Sorry Mr Shakespeare/Bacon) and the 3 day week, we had the task of installing a standy Gen set. Well we had done all the donkey work and we were doing last connections back from the ATS to the main Bus.

It was decided to save time on isolating everything and then go round resetting and checking everything, it would be done live ........after all we are talking pub time here.

I was a 2 yr apprentice by then and the guy that was going to do the "live" connection went off to get some lugs and crimpers and I was tasked to keeping out of the road. Well I decided to speed things along a little and prepare the way. There were 2 holes predrilled in the Red White phase bus and I decided I would fit the 5/8 bolts and nuts into the holes for him, so he could then just slide the lugs on an tighten with the nut,U washer and spring

All was going swimmingly, mat down and mat across the red phase and done the red. Started on the White phase and as i put my hand through between the bars the spanner I was holding, yes typical apprentice, bridge the phases.

Next thing I knew was darkness, and someone shaking me, as I laid against the wall a good 6-8 foot from the bus ..... my left arm was numb, my head was cut open and my heart was doing all sorts, I looked into a torch of the sparks and after a vitriol of abuse................it ended with and that's a new spanner you owe me.

Still today I don't exactly know what was on that bus, and I still get pins and needles in my left arm if I do too much impact work as I obviously damaged something ......I'm just glad I can still write this, not because of the belt, but I survived the sparks.
 
im lucky that i have only ever recieved minor belts at the start of my career.
Ive nearly had an accident on a large panel (1MVA), where i opened a section to find that the sheilding had been removed from the busbars. I was tesing Ze & phase rotation. The bloke i was working with came in from outside and dropped his hardhat onto a table, making me jump, as i was placing a croc clip onto a bolt on the bsubar. I gave him a -------ing (hes twice my size), and now if im doing testing of any sort, he is now as quiet as a mouse, as he knows how dangerous it is.
 
Dont know about the worst but the daftest one....when i worked in a small electrical engineers, we used to build one off panels of various sorts and one day i was just checking through one that had been completed, we used to make sure all contacters/relays worked as should do. i could not find the probe for the multmeter so just stuck a lead with a crocodile clip on a screwdriver and used that to check voltages in varios points. (I know, i did say it was the daftest!!)
Going fine until after looking at the drawing checking something out, picked the screwdriver up and with one finger touching the bare blade of it stuck it straight into a live terminal. Hell of a crack cos other hand was resting on metal caseing.
Didn't dare own up to it to other lads. what made it worse was i did it again two minutes later ! :)
 
550V dc from one of my amps, the bleeding resistor was open circuit so capacitor didn't discharge. Fell of my chair, I did. From that day on I enjoyed 240V ac :icon11:
 
In two minds with this one got a cracker of a belt from a faceplate starter (showing my age i know) but also had a beaut from a set of slip rings....which was entirely down to my own stupidity!
 
I've only had one electric shock when I was a 10 year old kid, I picked up a separated coupler to re-couple it, unfortunately for me TV installer who had wired it up had put the plug on the supply side and I got zapped when I grabbed hold of it.
 
Once picked up a commercial microwave that was faulty so i could get to the plug, and got a real zap, the most awake ive been in years, i never had to pay for my m and s staff breakfast again though
 
I have had a 500v DC belt a few months ago - launched me 6 foot away - had to sit down for a few mins after that one.
This was done because I was an idiot and did not isolate the machine as I could not be bothered to wait the 5 minutes for a UV lamp to cool down before isolating the machinery.
I accidentally touched the wrong bit I find that the more careful I am the more mistakes I make!
 
ive had a 5000v belt,hardly felt it...it was one of those horse electric fence things tho,gives a strange belt,like you have to touch it again for fun...
:24:
 
I worked in a very old animal feed mill, just after finishing my apprenticeship, which was a mass of conduit cables in galv trunking all over the place. Needed to trace a supply one day, so after locating the correct 3 phase cables I decided that it would be a good idea to run my hand along them to see where they left the trunking. What I didn't realise until after the event, was that mice had been living in there and had removed the insulation from a section of cables (and yes, I found a few little skellies in there when replacing the cable later). 415v across the hand was not pleasant.
That's what really scares me about these short training courses...even after 4 years I was still making stupid mistakes, yet these guys only have a few weeks in a classroom before doing it "for real".
 
That's what really scares me about these short training courses...even after 4 years I was still making stupid mistakes, yet these guys only have a few weeks in a classroom before doing it "for real".
Click to expand...

Just 17 days now, so you can be ''really really scared'' now!!! lol!!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
For me 10KV to earth of a 100VA ignition transformer. Landed in a heap on the opposite side of the room.

The first tradesman I worked with was testing a hoist we’d rigged up on the test bed. I was reading the drawing and told him to short 1 to 3 on the control, he shorts 1 & 3 on the incoming 550V. Burns up both arms and across his chest where the wire vaporised. 4 months off work, poor sod!

As for the spanner across the bus-bars that was the training officers trick, I was the silly schmuck that closed the 1000A DMO OCB. DMO = dependant manual operation.
 
Was putting the cover back on a 12 way db that was mounted on a rising main busbar so when I switched it back on I got an welders arc then when I reached to switch it off it went bang and I found myself thrown across the staircase so found the main 700A fuse to have blown because what I thought was a switch fuse under the db was a switch isolater where the singl 16mm cables were run in 25mm drilled holes on the back with no bush so over the years constant switching on and off was rubbing the cable against the chaff.

8 hours later i woke up blind and was rushed to the eye pavilion where I was diagnosed with a severe welders flash so I had stay off work for a week with my eyes covered and the kicker was I did not get paid when off sick
 
When I was a first year, The sparks I was with changed a flurry in HMV, I isolated the circuit for him and he ripped the fitting down, put the new one up, then he put a one neutral in each hand and got sent flying off the steps, customers swarmed round gawping as he stood up in a barrage of foul language! Turns out that the lights in question were fed from a 4 core armoured into light line trunking, on 3 single phase breakers with shared neutral, we didn't notice the lights at the other end of shop going out as he disconnected the neutral as only 1 or 2 were working and they were behind us! Enlightened me in regards to 'test before you touch' We reccomended fitting a 3 phase Breaker, Don't know if it ever happened though!
 
Guitarist said:
I worked in a very old animal feed mill, just after finishing my apprenticeship, which was a mass of conduit cables in galv trunking all over the place. Needed to trace a supply one day, so after locating the correct 3 phase cables I decided that it would be a good idea to run my hand along them to see where they left the trunking. What I didn't realise until after the event, was that mice had been living in there and had removed the insulation from a section of cables (and yes, I found a few little skellies in there when replacing the cable later). 415v across the hand was not pleasant.
That's what really scares me about these short training courses...even after 4 years I was still making stupid mistakes, yet these guys only have a few weeks in a classroom before doing it "for real".
Click to expand...

After a few minor zaps as an apprentice, I always wear one of my 11kw gloves before delving into trunking now!
 
Around 15yrs ago I took the arc from a 415v ph-ph short across my elbow from a connection that came loose in a board (not mine, I hasten to add). Flew me off my steps by a good 10', a well and truly scorched elbow that hurt for ages as it wouldn't heal because of the bending, and sufficient fc that it took out the respective 400A incomers.

I've had a load of various belts before and after, mostly by genuine misfortune though will confess to a couple through my own stupidity, though nothing compared to that.
 
somersetsparks said:
After a few minor zaps as an apprentice, I always wear one of my 11kw gloves before delving into trunking now!
Click to expand...

Been meaning to get a new pair for a while, anyone know a cheap supplier?
 
somersetsparks said:
After a few minor zaps as an apprentice, I always wear one of my 11kw gloves before delving into trunking now!
Click to expand...

We had a job doing that once.

An electrician had been electrocuted whilst installing additional wiring at a Health Protecton Agency site. The work was suspended, and we were called in to carry out a thorough inspection of the trunking system.

We had to inspect every section of trunking abovefalse ceilings and report any damaged, or loose cable ends.

We had to wear 1kv gloves and face shields.
 
The only real shocks I have had were workmates getting zapped,one funny others tragic


One long time mate,was drilling holes in the upstairs bathroom of a house (whilst I was having a sandwich sitting on the landing)
He shot out backwards from the bathroom,hit the wall by me shaking like a leaf,(his metal cased drill had earth faulted and the close central heating pipes didn't help)he had landed next to where I sat,so i was glancing sideways to him,
I sat there looked at him,at first with concern and sympathy, then uncontrollable laughter when he started slurring,shaking and swearing



Other times was tragic although I didn't witness the accidents

One workmate was working on overhead crane,had a shock, fell off and got killed
Another lost his lower part of the arm in a panel accident

Myself,I've had the odd tingle but nothing of any significance in well over 4 decades
 
Des 56 said:
The only real shocks I have had were workmates getting zapped,one funny others tragic


One long time mate,was drilling holes in the upstairs bathroom of a house (whilst I was having a sandwich sitting on the landing)
He shot out backwards from the bathroom,hit the wall by me shaking like a leaf,(his metal cased drill had earth faulted and the close central heating pipes didn't help)he had landed next to where I sat,so i was glancing sideways to him,
I sat there looked at him,at first with concern and sympathy, then uncontrollable laughter when he started slurring,shaking and swearing



Other times was tragic although I didn't witness the accidents

One workmate was working on overhead crane,had a shock, fell off and got killed
Another lost his lower part of the arm in a panel accident

Myself,I've had the odd tingle but nothing of any significance in well over 4 decades
Click to expand...
It does make you think, when you hear stories like that.

In a domestoc situation, the risks are usually getting a shock which could cause heart failure ect, and/or falling from ladders.
Some of the systems in an industrial situation could cause an explosion, alongside the other risks.

I dont think enough emphasis is put upon safe isolation & safe working practices.
To be honest, playing jokes upon people with the megger ect probably serves to teach people to be more careful. I always treat cables as if they are live, even if i know they are not.
Ive had a few jokes played on myself with the megger, and im probably more cautious as a result. Im a stickler for proper safe isolation ect though.

Ive had a switchfuse wired the wrong way around so that the unswitched neutral pole was L1, and neutral was switched. It was an assembly mistake by the panel firm, but there is no markings to show this, It was only by testing dead that i found this. It was on a large panel with the transfomer next door too. The switchfuse was a metre away behind the 3ph DB i was working on, but i still checked. I heard that before found out , another spark had got a belt but not reported it, as he didnt carry out safe isolation ect so thought he would get an earfull from management.
 
My worst electric shock was receiving the first leccy bill from EDF Energy after changing to them due to their salesman promising much cheaper leccy that my previous supplier.
 
This thread though tongue in cheek a lot, really does show us how this stuff is really dangerous. It got me looking back and reminding me of the worse thing I ever saw working.

I was out here in the 90s as an hospital engineer and it was Christmas day, which is obviously not celebrated. I was in our boiler house where we had steam boilers and the condensate tanks for these boilers where in the sub tunnels.

I was there with the lads and we heard this scream, and couldn't at first find it, but it went on and on and after about 5 minutes the lads found this lad.

He was in the tunnel doing some work on top of the tank and he jumped off, onto the sump side of the tank, where the steam condensate pipe drained into the sump and into the drains. This sump was covered by an hinged steel plate about 15mm thick. It was designed to hinge up if the tanks drains got blocked so you could clear it.

Well over the years this hinged plate must have corroded and as the guy jumped onto it, it folded in on the hinge and he went into the sump. We reckoned the water in there was about 85-90 degrees and he went in up to his chest.

By the time I got there they were pulling him out, and even today I can see his lower body and what was left of his skin ..........not ashamed I nearly threw up and his brother did ..............My lass was the director of nursing at the hosp[ital and I as I called her one of the lads called the ambulance, and we got him to A&E, he survived 4 days in ICU and to this day I can still hear him screaming, until he passed out.
 
When i was around 15 I used to have a 12v power supply and for some reason the top cover was missing. As it was stored on the floor (!) I needed something to cover the incoming side of the main switch. I used a sock.
One day I couldn't find a matching pair of socks, I had an odd one in the drawer and then noticed the matching one in the floor not remembering it was acting as an insulator in my PSU! That's probably the worst I've had.


I had one a couple of days ago, not sure exactly what I was touching, but my hand had just picked up a crocodile clip from a switch mode PSU that was turned off (the output) but also could have been the stainless steel sink unit. Loads of tests couldn't find anything wrong!
i also get muscle spasms in my hands so put it down to that in the end. I'll bond the sink just in case I think!
 
When I was young I plugged in a plug top with wires hanging out the bottom (guess father cut the lead off one then stored it like that), was blasted across the room but otherwise fine

I'd been sparking for about 2 years without a tingle then I started working with a friend and after about 2 hours I got a good one whilst cutting into a immersion circuit which he livened up after changing the fuse box

Worse one, was not very professional and embarrassing. Opened a old wylex fuse box and started on working out what the added circuits were, also under strict instructions to keep power on as long as possible for the wet room people. All going normally then went to pull out x fuse, x fuse didn't move and the entire thing came off the wall, catching it on the back of my hand
 
dean.diy said:
Malcolm, you last post reminded me the good intentions behind
H&S before the twerps in Brussels stopped kids playing conkers
etc etc.
Click to expand...

Think you'll find the equivalent H&SE bodies in Europe are no-where near as daft as those in the UK!! You will not see or find a single UK H&S officer on any overseas construction projects, ....Mainly because the powers that be, want to be able to finish the project on time and within budget!! lol!!!
 
I'll have to dig it out Col but a lad over here did do the local version of the H&S handbook, it was great

I remember one that the protective footwear flip-flop that all toes must be inside the sole and not over hanging. That both foot support straps must be attached. That the sole must not be less than 4mm in depth .............
 
Gold bracelet sneaked out of my sleeve and touched one of 3 phases, that woke me up and taught me to check each phase to earth not just phase to phase (1st year apprentice mistake).
 
Funny how you change with age,been in the game for 30 years before I retired and had a few good belts over the years,worst one resulted in burns to left hand and arm and severe "sunburn" to my face.But over the years I took a few chances as we all do yet now if i,m helping someone out as I do every now and again its safe isolation full hit with a proving device etc and anywhere near a live and its insulated gear with gloves if needed.Must be getting cautious with age,even went out and got a set of lock out gear.
 
Id put a fork in a toaster while it was on when I was around 12.

Took out a hot water cylinder a few years ago(unlagged and all exposed copper), took a hold of the pipework coming off the top of it to heave it out as it still had a fair weight to it, and the immersion cable had only been switched off, and as the cylinder pushed past it turned on, the cable ends happened to be touch the cylinder and for a few seconds (which felt like a lot longer) I was been belted. I was fine from it luckily, and lesson defo learnt.

Had a belt off a family members washing machine that i agreed to swap out and got a belt, only to hear from them watching me saying, "oh yeah, by the way theres no earth to that old one" :banghead:

- - - Updated - - -

Id put a fork in a toaster while it was on when I was around 12.

Took out a hot water cylinder a few years ago(unlagged and all exposed copper), took a hold of the pipework coming off the top of it to heave it out as it still had a fair weight to it, and the immersion cable had only been switched off, and as the cylinder pushed past it turned on, the cable ends happened to be touch the cylinder and for a few seconds (which felt like a lot longer) I was been belted. I was fine from it luckily, and lesson defo learnt.

Had a belt off a family members washing machine that i agreed to swap out and got a belt, only to hear from them watching me saying, "oh yeah, by the way theres no earth to that old one" :banghead:
 
Got a belt off an emergency lighting circuit in a shopping centre! Was screwing the switch plate back and went to push the cable out of the way of the pin ..... Must of been a split in the insulation , am really cautious of this in switches now, after the shock I had to sit down and apparently wen white! Did feel pretty pants too!!
 

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