Working live

[Bobster]

Oh is that what you call working live nowadays, yes of course I have fitted an mcb in a live db, working live to me is playing with live bits in busbars etc

Although technically it is working live, fitting an MCB wouldn't bother me.

I have in the past drilled and tapped live bus bars. That is what I would consider live working. We followed a strict procedure, and had proper tools and equipment.

 

[David M]

I have in the past drilled and tapped live bus bars. That is what I would consider live working. We followed a strict procedure, and had proper tools and equipment.

Brave man!

 

[David M]

Grey!

Fifty Shades?

 

[Bobster]

Brave man!

Not really, there was a very strict documented procedure in place. No different to line jointers.

 

[Andy-1960]

FYI, fitting an MCB into a DB is classed as working live, an electrician friend of mine got seriously hurt doing just this, all down to a faulty breaker which blew up in his face as he fitted it.
The HSE got involved and said there was no reason why the board should not have been switched off to carry out the work. His company got fined and he has the scars on his face and hands.
As with all accidents, its the unexpected that gets you..

 

[7029 dave]

Although technically it is working live, fitting an MCB wouldn't bother me.

I have in the past drilled and tapped live bus bars. That is what I would consider live working. We followed a strict procedure, and had proper tools and equipment.

I have done just that too, not today, it is just not worth it. HS would have a field day.

 

[rhitey]

Oh memories
Going back a bit here but I remember one wonderful occasion fitting a 3 phase MCB in a KQ board and the damn thing just wouldn't click in so in that time honored tradition I decided to give it a little shove.
Yep it went then, straight in too far and shorted out on the metal panel behind.
Woke me up I can tell you.

 

[telectrix]

Oh memories
Going back a bit here but I remember one wonderful occasion fitting a 3 phase MCB in a KQ board and the damn thing just wouldn't click in so in that time honored tradition I decided to give it a little shove.
Yep it went then, straight in too far and shorted out on the metal panel behind.
Woke me up I can tell you.

you should have used a smaller hammer.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Live working hmmm, no more measuring Ze and Zs.
Ze by enquiry and Zs by calculation.

 

[Andy-1960]

you should have used a smaller hammer.

No.. one with a longer handle!!!

 

[Andy-1960]

FYI, fitting an MCB into a DB is classed as working live, an electrician friend of mine got seriously hurt doing just this, all down to a faulty breaker which blew up in his face as he fitted it.
The HSE got involved and said there was no reason why the board should not have been switched off to carry out the work. His company got fined and he has the scars on his face and hands.
As with all accidents, its the unexpected that gets you..

Why do I get a dumb rating for this???? Please remove

 

[polo1]

Why do I get a dumb rating for this???? Please remove

Eeeek, sorry mate, I was trying to agree with you. Fat finger syndrome on an iPhone. Should now be changed!!!!!

 

[Rpa07]

How fat are your fingers @polo1? There's 2" between like and the other! It's certainly fiddly on an I phone, sometimes it takes 5 goes to get it right!
Is that how you spell 'goes'? You judge but careful to not press the dumb button! sausage fingers!

 

[telectrix]

i always work live. can't see me doing the job if i'm bloody well dead.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Are zombies entitled to a living wage?

 

[polo1]

How fat are your fingers @polo1? There's 2" between like and the other! It's certainly fiddly on an I phone, sometimes it takes 5 goes to get it right!
Is that how you spell 'goes'? You judge but careful to not press the dumb button! sausage fingers!

Lol! Have to say I'm still struggling with parts of the "new" site - must be getting to the age where adapting to change is getting more difficult.
PS why are my emojis not appearing in posts?????

 

[Specialist]

Have that problem sometimes as well when using Android tablet. If you press space bar after typing, then pick an emoji it usually comes up.

 

[telectrix]

Are zombies entitled to a living wage?

only if they work in a dying trade.

 

[rhitey]

No.. one with a longer handle!!!

Hey hey come on now who said anything about a hammer?
Just thumped it with me hand
Hammer would've been next if that hadn't worked :-D

 

[Jim Gyure]

I had one bad experience with a co-worker while working live on a job. Since then I've worked odd hours on jobs where they wanted me to work live just to avoid it when possible. I typically will only work live if I'm working alone and no one else can complicate the process.

 

[Pete999]

I had one bad experience with a co-worker while working live on a job. Since then I've worked odd hours on jobs where they wanted me to work live just to avoid it when possible. I typically will only work live if I'm working alone and no one else can complicate the process.

And if you got a belt that wasn't fatal what next if you are alone?

 

[David M]

And if you got a belt that wasn't fatal what next if you are alone?

Me dad gave me a belt once, I couldn't sit down for a few days. Mind you thinking back I did deserve it

 

[Pete999]

I used to get the slipper at school think it was a size 11 it was DC (direct contact) as well

 

[gazdkw82]

I'm very new to electrical work in the grand scheme of things and iv experienced 1 close encounter fitting a shower pull cord and a multimeter (some of you may have read that post)

It's fair to say that even that fairly large (for my experience) bang and spark scares me and really touched home the reality of electricity. I wouldn't work live unless I felt 100% confident and the right tools/protection. I'm not scared of electricity but I damn well respect it and don't for one Minute think I'm immune to a fatal shock.

You can be as hard as nails with balls of steel until it catches you the wrong way.

 

[ackbarthestar]

This goes beyond client contractor having a poke at each other.
There are certain conditions where live working is acceptable but there are very rigorous rules to be observed.
Documentation, RAs, Flash gear, marigolds, 11kV rubber mats
You will find them in the EAWRs 1989 and ESQCR 2002
My advice is to get the HSE to order a stop notice on the contracted work (by not stopping), the client will pass the notice onto Environmental Health dept.
At this point you step back and crack open the pop corn

This is what happens when you don't plan ahead

 

[Pat H]

Notice his safety hat wasn't strapped on and fell off. Notice the chaos of the working environment. An accident waiting to happen.

 

[D00DY_T00DY]

Hey hey come on now who said anything about a hammer?
Just thumped it with me hand
Hammer would've been next if that hadn't worked :-D

Ah that's where you went wrong. Hammer with insulation tape.

Got to be VDE.

 

[Specialist]

Dood, his hammer is VDE buddy: Very Destructive Equipment

 

[D00DY_T00DY]

Dood, his hammer is VDE buddy: Very Destructive Equipment

Every knows thumb detectors are only used for "gentle persuasion"

Bigger thumb detectors for more persuasion.

 

[Specialist]

Yes isn't it a strange phenomenon, the bigger the hammer the more you hit your thumb .

Felt sorry for my mate yesterday, thumb just back to normal & no black nail so he's landed. He'd only been showing us 5 minutes before how well it had healed, then the idiot picks up a 16oz ball hammer to whack out a bearing & hits the same thumb.
.