ARC FLASH SUIT KIT 👉 amzn.to/3TERzvB BEST Electrical Multi-Meter that I use everyday! 👉 amzn.to/3TNDSL2 Have you ever been burned or seen someone burned in an arc flash incident?
I have personally survived too many arc flash incidents: One, a faulty disconnect switch, two, a meter stuck in the socket (was common in our area for sparkies to pull meters on panel upgrades) and the third was trying to seat a Zinsco in a panel with no main (My parent's house, I was 15 at the time) by smacking the end of a screwdriver on the terminal. Smacked so hard driver broke through and across both buses. All of those were "only" 120/240. And all in my first years. After close to 40 years I have gotten a lot smarter, and in the extremely rare times I "had" to work hot, full PPE. As for seen, yes, first bad one was at age 9 seeing a utility worker vaporized by a pole transformer, and have witnessed a few others during my years in the trade.
I’ve had 2 phases of 480volts blow up a faulty meter in my hand. Luckily I was wearing my 40 cal. I could feel the pieces of the meter hit me in the chest. Definitely made my ears ring and happens so fast you don’t have time to be scared.I always wear my PPE in 120 volt panels. People will learn when it happens to them.
@landerselectric I got my retinas "burnt" by an arc flash once. My boss at the time was pulling a new set of wires through an existing conduit with a metal fish tape and the lights in the building went out. That was the existing circuit in that conduit being shorted out from cutting into a wire with the fish tape. I was tracing out the wires to find the break when he tried resetting the breaker without telling me. He was convinced it was a nuisance trip because after decades of experience he had never seen a wire cut by a fish tape. I had just found the fault/break it was right next to a junction box. I was just about to pull out the broken wire when I heard loud pop and a fireball shoot out the conduit at my face. Though I was surprised, everything seemed fine until later I woke in the night with my eyes in extreme pain. I ended going into the emergency after I realized the pain was only getting worse even with numbing drops (eyedrops). The doctor explained it was my eyes had essentially gotten sunburnt. Probably the worst pain I've ever experienced even compared to kidney stones and a ruptured appendix. I had to keep my eyes closed or wrapped for several days only opening to keep putting a special ointment on them for every time the pain in my eyes got too unbearable. That was in addition to the oxycondone. Thankfully I made a full recovery after a couple of weeks, but it was a wake up call. This could have been prevented in so many ways. Many ways I could have blamed on the other guy but I also didn't lockout/tag out so I could have prevented it myself.
@landerselectric had a 480 V air compressor contactor blow up in front of me after it ignited due to an oil mist, caught the flash, my eyes had welders burn for two days, I was lucky.
It's rare these days bc most companies, while they encourage you to admit mistakes, will always bring on very heavy disciplinary actions. All that does is teach people its best to not admit anything, and that's a serious problem. It's not just with safety either, if you get into an auto accident and say "I'm sorry" it's seen as admitting guilt. This is where we are now.
@@landerselectric Wear what makes you comfortable and safe. Personally I handle 110 residential live freely, for convenience really, but I would not advise anyone to practice that, anything could be present to diminish the resistance that makes it "safe". 240 I would never. Best practice unpowered not matter what it is, but you know that isn't always possible.
My apprentice thought it would be a good idea to scare me while I was right next to the main lugs about 9 months ago. I reamed his ass out for that. He did it again a week ago. He is now unemployed.
This joker ought to be drummed out of the apprenticeship, revoke his apprentice license/permit. Safety is paramount and always 1st around constructions projects. Electrical, building,
@@landerselectric That's not a joke. I have several friends who are electricians and a lot of DIY'er friends and there is nothing to joke about like that. You always always need to be 100% aware and paying attention not worrying about what someone else htinks might be funny.
That was definitely not funny , You never startle a person , Especially when he's working in a live circuit breaker panel , If I had a person working with me and did that just once He'd be fired in a heartbeat , Always let the person know of your presence and let him do his work and stay clear of him unless he asks you for some help I am very strict when it comes to electrical safety and I have zero tolerance to anybody who violates my rules
Reminded of a guy at officer training school: At the pistol range he smiled & waved his gun around (not keeping it pointed to the ground). A few days later, he was gone.
I’m glad everything worked out for you. My sister got electrocuted in a car accident. 34,500 volt distribution line entered at her head and came out her left foot. Leg amputated above the knee because of loss of circulation. She had other exit wounds on back and buttocks. 24 years later, and she is doing well. Had children and no long term issues. This goes to show that if your number isn’t up, you get a second chance. Be safe.
@@charvakkarpecalling a 35kv contact that resulted in severe burns and an amputation not an electrocution is crazy. We all know it's literally short hand for electric execution but we don't really have better shorthand for a severe electrical injury, so cases like this one are included. I'd say any case where if the victim had not received medical attention they would have died could be considered an electrocution. Words change over time man it's ok.
Honestly, when i'm moving too fast, or thinking about doing something sketchy, I literally begin to think of UA-cam FAIL VIDEOS, and me becoming the newest star; I STOP AND REFOCUS 😂. Thanks for sharing.
There's major value in this video. I'm an engineer who occasionally receives calls to troubleshoot industrial equipment. This involves probing around with my meter on gear and in panels that are hot. An arc flash is no joke. Imagine one in a 3-phase panel. I will start wearing PPE. You showed pics but I don't think people realize just how badly these injuries hurt and for how long. Thank you for sharing.
Got 45 years commercial and industrial under my belt. We did some crazy things back in those days. Glad my guardian angel was with me everyday. Also glad youre ok
I got an arc flash while probing a 300V circuit a few years back. It vaporized the tips off of my test leads but my meter and I escaped without serious injury. I do so love the "sunburn in your eyeballs" sensation it gave me though! My Fluke 87V took it like a champ and is still in use today. Fluke is the only brand I'll buy for electrical work.
I am diy. I have worked on my own panel to add a CB and 8/3 cable to my garage for a welding machine. Although I was super careful, watching your video gives me chills and I respect electricity a whole lot more now. Thank you for sharing and God bless you
Yeah I saw a video about an electrician who worked in a really big industrial mill that I think made plywood or somethng, and had big machines, and he opened a panel that had shut down a machine it powered, it was 2300 volts , and he had an arc flash happen and it set him on fire, they figured out he ran down the corridor and thru a door, collapsed and died the next day in the hospital. That arc flash and then his clothes catching on fire both combined together into a really bad scene that wasnt survivable. They cited some mistakes, one was not having a buddy with him, he was there alone, I think the arc flash explosion happened when he touched his voltage meter to the terminals, maybe the voltage on the box was not labelled right or whatever it was, his meter was not correct for the high voltage if I remember right, and it melted the meter and shorted the connections. Here's the video details on youtube; Arc Flash Fatality Video.wmv 4,185,679 views Sep 18, 2012 The tragic story of how a worker, Eddie Adams, died from an arc flash, and how it impacted his co-workers and his family.
retired electrician here. Glad the injuries were not more severe. Appreciate you owning your mistake, we all have failed at one point or another. wish you the best. For anyone reading this: i used to talk out loud saying things to assure myself that I was safe to work i.e. main power lines cut by ele company, main breaker off, metered, and LOTO installed. breaker off LOTO installed and outlet metered, etc...that system saved me more than once from getting into a 'hot' box, wire, etc. Be safe
It's good to see how well you've recovered and that you're willing to share your story so others might learn without making the mistake themselves. Stephan, I know this happened months ago (couple years?), but what really came through to me was how fatigued and stressed you were. Sleep deficit, teaching an apprentice, client needs, all while pretty much ignoring what your body is trying to tell you - slow down, recover from work, find a stress relief - as your brain gets further distracted. I hope you've found a pace more in line with your well being.
Wow, your contractor friend was a true hero, not to mention your awareness of taking care of others (old lady), your a good man, don't let anyone tell you otherwise 👍
Thank you for sharing and glad you’re okay. A few years ago in residential myself, we did a generator install with a disconnect transfer switch. My crew and I did all the work in 1 day and we drove 2 hours that day. 16 hours. My crew forgot to hook up the ground rods , and didn’t separate grounds and neutrals from the sub panel that was fed from the main breaker box. Worse part, all the breakers were on and there were welders. Went to turn the power on and all the breakers. I turn on every breaker besides the sub first. Everything is good. I turn the sub on. BOOM! 200 amp main breaker explodes in my face and melt plastic imbeds in my face. Ruins my beard. Thankfully I was far enough away from any more danger, but I understand
That’s crazy! Working long days can really impact our workmanship. I know I was exhausted and should’ve done a lot of things different. Glad you’re ok though!
Toward the end of my "career" I had become super vigilant about testing power. At a resi service change I pulled the meter and was preparing to start the demo and, even though the power runs thru the meter, I used my tester and found full 120/240 voltage in the panel. I was puzzled for a few minutes trying to figure out where the feed was coming from. I took a closer look in the 1960's meter can and found something I had not seen in my 40 years. It had a built in spring loaded bypass. When you pulled the meter for service, the power stayed connected. They probably realized quickly that it was a bad idea and stopped that nonsense. Anyways, kids, ALWAYS test for power with a working meter. ESPECIALLY if you are going to be in a seriously risky situation. If I have to grab the bus or wiring tightly with bare hands I ALWAYS do a double check with the meter and a quick flash/short test or finger tough to be 100% safe. I'd rather make some sparks rather than get locked on to something. Be safe. PS. You did teach your apprentice something that day :)
I'm a health & safety professional. Thank you for sharing your story. You've saved folks watching, from being injured or killed. Very valuable safety information here.
Just came across your channel. I have been an electrician for over 45 years. I went through pretty much the same thing only with 480 volts around 35 years ago. It was only because I wanted to cut corners and save time. I came out ok with my hands but had I not had leather gloves on it could have been a different story. Glad to hear that you came out ok. Also, look into getting helicopter insurance. It is literally like 8 dollars a month and covers your entire household. I signed up for it several years ago and had a car wreck in 2020 and my bill was $49,000. Health insurance paid $9,000, then it was only because of my helicopter membership that they took care of the other $40,000. You got a new sub here and I am looking forward to your content. Stay safe out there.
I also heard that when hiking to make sure and buy a .....I think it's a hunting license. Supposedly it comes with emergency transport insurance which would cover a helo ride from a remote place.
Most insurance that covers ambulance also covers air ambulance as in my case and this guys case. They are not typically covered separately. Not hard to call and ask.
Wow, not many people this open, honest, articulate about something that could have really messed him up......really appreciate that and so glad you're okay!
Glad you weren't much more seriously injured or worse. Thankfully you are still here to share your experience as a teaching moment. As a homeowner I used to foolishly do live work using the 1 hand and rubber boots method. Never again will I tempt fate like that.
That was brutal. I'm so sorry that happened to you, and I'm happy that you are recovering. There is no doubt that sharing this experience will help someone avoid an accident in the future. Thank you! And may you have a successful and safe career going forward.
I was stupidly exposed to arc-flash burns when pulling a utility meter that was mislabeled and under heavy load. It was in a multi-family dwelling with a few dozen meters. That was when I was an apprentice in 1981. We were “De-Federal Pacific’ing” a ghetto complex in East Orange, NJ. My eyes were bandaged shut for close to a week and I will never touch a thing without verifying everything first, LoTo and wearing PPE. I have macular degeneration now, nothing to do with the injury, but it makes me appreciate sight just that much more. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Thanks for Sharing!! So easy to get complacent with low voltage. Ahhh, its just 120. I've heard that so many times!!!! The direct short current on just 120 is Enormous!! Yall, I know time is money and we all want to work fast. Don't lose sight of being a professional electrician vs a handy man! It's easy to do. Don't work hot men! 30 bucks an hour isn't worth your life! Sincerely thanks for sharing. Every electrician reading this knows they've been guilty of something similar and just got away with it that time. Ne-wayz... Love all the trades...Yall stay safe out there!!!
Thank you for your honesty. I had a similar incident in a 600 amp 120/208 in 2018. I hope your openness keeps someone else from making the same mistakes.
Im in HVAC, about a year ago, I was doing a compressor swap. In the process of unwireing it, with the breaker off to that circut, I accidentally made contact with a live 480v heater band. To this day I have NO idea how im not dead. The contact was my left index finger and the exit was my right forearm. I was alone, so I have no idea how long I was locked in. But the bolt scar on my finger stayed for over a nonth and you could see black lightening patterns almost up to my wrist. Its 100% crossed my heart. The only thing I can assume is quantum immortality. In such I had passed away in my original timeline, but my conscious perceives in a timeline I did not.
Thanks for sharing, takes good character to share mistakes so that others can hopefully learn and get value from your own unfortunate accident! Really appreciate it, we get too complacent with 120/240 split phase, treating it with less respect than we should... Greetings from an IBEW apprentice from PA.
Thank you for sharing I’ll go ahead and just say I’m not in Electrician by trade however I am a contractor and I do electrical work whenever legally I can on my own house or on a property. I’m developing something like that and I was working on a hot panel installing two new 20 amp circuits , and when I was hooking up, the ground was real close to some of the hots coming into the 30 amp circuit. The whole panel was live, which I was comfortable with, thinking I would be careful. I accidentally let go of the ground while hooking it up and it touched the 30 and a 20, it blew up and stuck to it, I had some pliers right there, I grabbed the wire with the pliers and pulled it off. Scared the crap out of me and makes me feel like an idiot. I stripped backed the wired where it nicked them and moved on. But Saftey is number one and should not be forgotten.
Thankyou so much for the information. And thankyou for telling your story man. So glad you’re still here with us and able to work everyday and make a living. 🙏🏼
Thank God you are all right. Sometimes when we do a job, we think that we know enough not to get hurt. So we tend take chances. We should all strive to make safety first, even if it takes a little longer to complete the job.
Think of the people you helped telling your story.. Much respect..I do a lot of DIY elec BC im in rural NE Idaho.. I watch tons of Vids and the professionals that admit they work in live panels amazes me....
Fellow electrical contractor glad you are all right. We have had a couple of scares but nothing like this I am glad you're okay and I am sure you will be safer and more aware from now on. Videos like these and experiences always bring me back to remembering how dangerous routine can become. To all those who have been saying you don’t need ppe are idiots. You have a family to go back to and should take every precaution to stay safe. Best of luck and thank you for sharing your video and experience.
When swapping your panel, always make sure the utility is disconnected from the service. I always pull the meter and lock the box out. If the meter is also being replaced, I get on the ladder and carefully cut both hots and cap them off with nuts and tape, then I use my pork chop and rope to sag the live line to the ground. Once the live line is on the ground, i have a 10gallon bucket with a hole in the top. I throw the live capped ends into the bucket and place it on its side away from any hazards and tape the area off and put down cones. It only takes a few minutes and its worth the time. Ive seen worse than your incident and its a blessing you're alive and still kicking ass. Great video.
Thanks for the video, I work in a 230/415 country. I think I needed a wake up video like this. Been a sparky for 30 years, you start to get a bit to complacent after a while.
The one thing you never want to do in electrical is get comfortable you always got to be aware I was a electrician for 11 and a half years and never was comfortable I was always aware. I was trained in residential commercial industrial and also lineman and oilfield work. I was always aware even the days when I was tired. But accidents do happen my boss caused a lot of them. I learned from his mistakes on on what not to do. Be safe out there my sparky Brothers.
I was just debating if I should put a main breaker in my sub panel. I think I will so I can for sure kill the sub panel without shutting down the entire house. Thank you for showing this and letting everyone know to double check with a meter and you never get too good to think you can’t make a mistake. Glad you are ok. My Father was a lineman for about forty years and fortunately he came home every night because he was a stickler for safety.
Fault currents can be horrific. My dad was an electrical contractor and he used to employ this old guy who was really messed up. He used to be a linesman for the local electric company and he was hurt by a really bad 240V arc flash. When he was a young guy a wrench fell across some transformer terminals. He was really lucky to be alive.
Glad he’s alive even after that accident. I’m really glad to see all the comments like yours. I pray this really brings awareness and helps everyone think twice before working on live panels, even 120/240.
Great honest video. I'm glad you're OK. I had a similar experience really scarey. Here in the uk arc flash analysis is not a requirement. In the USA it is. Props to you
Man thank God it wasn’t worse. 🙏🏽 Im an HVAC Tech about 2 years in so still learning lol but I was hit with 460 a couple months ago & got extremely lucky as well. I had a crazy mark shooting up my arm & was shaking but kept working right after, I guess the damage wasn’t too bad 🤣 & the mark eventually went away but I thank God everyday & definitely learned from my mistake. Any upcoming techs make sure to take your time, your life IS worth the time 💯
Thanks for the video. I encourage electrician of all kinds to hear arc flash stories. Keep this always fresh in you mind, we get so comfortable around energized parts. I too have had an arc flash take place on my hand, it blew a hole in my thumb. Love your channel
This is what happened to me 20 years ago trying to replace a faulty 240 volt breaker. BOOM, ambulance ride to the burn unit, burn cream, gloves and out of work for a month, and the kind of pain that won't let you forget.
I've heard a lot of second hand stories about bad, like real bad shocks and burns, I've seen and even had my own close calls, but this is my first time hearing one that actually happened (not almost happened) that was first hand and on top of that you have pictures too... all this makes it just that much more real to me.
I worked with one guy who arc flashed 460 volts without any PPE. He blew the fuses at the closest panel plus the main fuses on the power pole feeding the shop. His hands were so burned that it took him 4 months before he could use them . He did not have the knowledge or business being in the panel. The thing that I found out later was this was the second time that he has shorted out 460 volts at the shop! Somehow he managed to survive both instances.
Thank you for sharing this. Glad you are getting back to normal. We take things for granted when working on anything electoral And unfortunately this is the grim. reminder of what can go wrong.
Don’t mess around with any of it, all of it will get you. We all get complacent in what we do and that’s when we mess up. Glad you healed and everything is good now
I took 120v into my hand for a few seconds and it was numb and tingled for about an hour. When you see what arcs can do, melt metal, and shoot sparks, it really reminds you how dangerous the invisible electricity is until you see it. Glad you didn’t lose your hand. Anyone who laughs at PPE isn’t aware enough and/or doesn’t have loved ones.
Much thanks for this message. glad you made a good recovery. Hopefully no lasting effects such as sensitivity to hot running water.... A dozen years back i spent a week at some folks house as a hurricane passed through. Electricity went out for 4-5 days. The home owner had a extension cord going from the outlet on an electric generator to the house breaker panel. I never tried to gain an understanding how or why, but it kept his well pumps running and vital outlet(s) in his home. I knew it was all well over my head or my experience so i would never dare try.
I work in a data center with 34.5kV coming into the building and 480 3ph throughout(and well north of 1000A on some busses). I’m going to share this with my coworkers to reinforce the wearing of proper PPE, Live-dead-live checks and of course LOTO. When 35kV is in the transformer just outside it’s easy to start thinking that 480 isn’t so bad…
Now im even more worried about working on 480 3phase while im at work!!! Glad your still with us and i hope i make it through my career without this happening.
What a lesson for anyone working with high current circuits - and so glad your OK. I'm an EE and only a few months ago had a frustrating argument with someone who could not seem to appreciate how dangerous large currents at 120V can be - you sure provided an example I could have used back then. Also a great account how it often takes a number of things going wrong for a disaster to happen just as it always seems to be the case in any of the air crash investigations. Great video and important video! Regards from Canada!
@@landerselectric "I hope people will see this video and change their minds on 120/240." I couldn't agree more! Truth is, you will never know how many injuries/lives you might save by posting it!
Nice to hear that you recovered and are teaching others by talking about your mistake. This is why I hate bare copper wire in Romex. I can't wait for the NEC to change this and mandate insulated conductors in all wire. It makes residential panels much more dangerous than commercial. Give me MC and THHN any time.
Thank you so much for sharing your story. You could easily have let pride or fear get in the way of that. You could have blamed others or made excuses. Everyone makes mistakes, thats life. Not everyone has the courage to admit them, especially to the whole world. I'm thankful this accident was not any worse than it was. Your willingness to share helps us all; to be cautious and think about the dangers. We should all leave our pride at the door, this and more could happen to the best of us. Keep up the good work, God bless
This is a great reminder. Complacency is a killer. Thank you. I will definitely come into work Monday with a refreshed outlook on safety for me and my guy.
I’m so glad your good brother As a 25 yr electrician I’m just cringing at the photos and story. I been around so many who say “what you scared to work on it hot?” And I say HECK YEAH. I’m trying to go home all in one piece screw your ego and machismo. Glad your good man our hands mean everything to us. Glad your insurance covered everything too
I think I’m going to do a video on understanding AIC rating and series rating panels. I think most everyday electricians don’t understand how it actually works. I know I didn’t learn it until I started my own company and needed to understand it.
In the real world , panels get hot swapped all the time. I work around energized, open bus bar panels daily that are one dropped tool away from an explosion. Even on union gigs theres shenanigans and sometimes even more so because their ego's are fully engaged. Im glad you're still here. Do what you can to be able to go home each night.
Good video good topic. Same thing happened to me (forearm and hand)while working on 3p-480 and using cheap replaceable head/tip screwdriver(throw them away) when the phillips 2” tip pulled out and fell across the line side of a contactor and shorted 2 phases. It kind of happened in slomo so i had a second to pull back anticipating it .. Boom! I Wasn't wearing proper PPE and was kind of rushing, not very smart. Burned arm pretty good but was lucky. Luck should not be part of your electrical career.
NFPA 70E and lockout/tagout exist for a reason. Safety regulations are written in blood. The problem with way too many residential electrical workers is they either never learn proper workplace safety or they get sloppy and don’t do what they know they’re supposed to do.
Im not an electrician, I’m an HVAC contractor & journeyman plumber. We do work around live power all the time. I’ve gotten a few good zaps I’m my life and have total respect for electricity and the damage it can cause. Even the best of us make simple mistakes. Happy for you that the cost wasn’t higher. Take care my friend
while planting for the family back in the day i was walking along some triple phase braided alum wires that were a good 100 ft above us ....Massive wind gust brought a deadish hemlock into a phase which then touched b phase.......All i saw was a green/blue flame about the size of a school bus/massive boom burnt hemlock....its been 20 years but i can see it in my mind like it was yesterday
12/1996 I was trying to finish a voltage conversion on a European built machine. Europe does not follow the US standards so the live wires to the door panel switch are on the bottom and in the middle of the panel whereas equipment built in the US cannot have any serviceable parts above the live connections that enter the switch from the top. Like you, I was very tired and rushed as I needed to finish and catch a redeye flight from Phoenix to Atlanta for an emergency service call the next morning. My left arm touched one phase of 480 while my right hand was holding the edge of the panel. All I could do was watch my arm burn as my sight dimmed and I was locked on. Lucky for me my left hand shorted to ground and the resultant muscle spasm made me do a back flip out of the panel. At the ER, they thought they would have to cut tendons as my arm was severely clenched. Afterwards I had to perform startup testing on the machine in Dallas and on the faces of the motor starters was pieces of dead skin where my arm was ripped loose from when I was 'ejected' from the panel. And yeah, I had nightmares for years afterwards!
Last I heard, residential electricity is the same as commercial electricity, just "slightly" less dangerous, but still lethal. It's good that you recognized and compensated for your mistake, but next time, just thinking, "Now how is this going to kill me" before starting might help.
As alignment I seen 12,470 art flash with about 200 A on it and it was gnarly thank God our guy that threw the fuses in had an art flash suit on and being 16 feet away was still gnarly
In junior high we dared a kid to stick a paper clip into a standard outlet, bent so it fit into both sides. It went in a little but didn't quite make contact, so my friend used the side of his shoe to push it the rest of the way in. MASSIVE arc flash that went up to the ceiling leaving a large black mark up the wall, and burned a hole ask the way my friend's shoe, miraculously not burning him. I learned to respect 120V ever since.
Electrician 30 years we were doing a commercial building we took off the door for the switchgear solid copper bus my helper tripped the face of the panel fell into the copper bus explosion luckily another guy shut it down he couldn't see he was shaking we went to the hospital and he says I feel like I have sand in my eyes and I can't see thank goodness the eye doctor gave him a cream he had to keep his eyes covered eventually his eyesight came back the suit is a good idea😊
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Have you ever been burned or seen someone burned in an arc flash incident?
I have personally survived too many arc flash incidents: One, a faulty disconnect switch, two, a meter stuck in the socket (was common in our area for sparkies to pull meters on panel upgrades) and the third was trying to seat a Zinsco in a panel with no main (My parent's house, I was 15 at the time) by smacking the end of a screwdriver on the terminal. Smacked so hard driver broke through and across both buses. All of those were "only" 120/240. And all in my first years. After close to 40 years I have gotten a lot smarter, and in the extremely rare times I "had" to work hot, full PPE. As for seen, yes, first bad one was at age 9 seeing a utility worker vaporized by a pole transformer, and have witnessed a few others during my years in the trade.
I’ve had 2 phases of 480volts blow up a faulty meter in my hand. Luckily I was wearing my 40 cal. I could feel the pieces of the meter hit me in the chest. Definitely made my ears ring and happens so fast you don’t have time to be scared.I always wear my PPE in 120 volt panels. People will learn when it happens to them.
@landerselectric I got my retinas "burnt" by an arc flash once. My boss at the time was pulling a new set of wires through an existing conduit with a metal fish tape and the lights in the building went out. That was the existing circuit in that conduit being shorted out from cutting into a wire with the fish tape. I was tracing out the wires to find the break when he tried resetting the breaker without telling me. He was convinced it was a nuisance trip because after decades of experience he had never seen a wire cut by a fish tape. I had just found the fault/break it was right next to a junction box. I was just about to pull out the broken wire when I heard loud pop and a fireball shoot out the conduit at my face. Though I was surprised, everything seemed fine until later I woke in the night with my eyes in extreme pain. I ended going into the emergency after I realized the pain was only getting worse even with numbing drops (eyedrops). The doctor explained it was my eyes had essentially gotten sunburnt. Probably the worst pain I've ever experienced even compared to kidney stones and a ruptured appendix. I had to keep my eyes closed or wrapped for several days only opening to keep putting a special ointment on them for every time the pain in my eyes got too unbearable. That was in addition to the oxycondone. Thankfully I made a full recovery after a couple of weeks, but it was a wake up call. This could have been prevented in so many ways. Many ways I could have blamed on the other guy but I also didn't lockout/tag out so I could have prevented it myself.
@landerselectric had a 480 V air compressor contactor blow up in front of me after it ignited due to an oil mist, caught the flash, my eyes had welders burn for two days, I was lucky.
You have saved countless lives by being man enough to allow us to learn from your tragic incident.
Thank you.
A man who recognized and admits his mistakes, i admire that.
Pride doesn’t help others learn from your mistakes.
He'll never make it as a politician or a policemen . Their never wrong.
It's rare these days bc most companies, while they encourage you to admit mistakes, will always bring on very heavy disciplinary actions. All that does is teach people its best to not admit anything, and that's a serious problem. It's not just with safety either, if you get into an auto accident and say "I'm sorry" it's seen as admitting guilt. This is where we are now.
@@landerselectric Wear what makes you comfortable and safe. Personally I handle 110 residential live freely, for convenience really, but I would not advise anyone to practice that, anything could be present to diminish the resistance that makes it "safe". 240 I would never. Best practice unpowered not matter what it is, but you know that isn't always possible.
My apprentice thought it would be a good idea to scare me while I was right next to the main lugs about 9 months ago. I reamed his ass out for that. He did it again a week ago. He is now unemployed.
There are ok jokes and not ok jokes. Unemployment for anyone who pulls that kind of joke with my company as well!
This joker ought to be drummed out of the apprenticeship, revoke his apprentice license/permit. Safety is paramount and always 1st around constructions projects. Electrical, building,
@@landerselectric That's not a joke. I have several friends who are electricians and a lot of DIY'er friends and there is nothing to joke about like that. You always always need to be 100% aware and paying attention not worrying about what someone else htinks might be funny.
That was definitely not funny , You never startle a person , Especially when he's working in a live circuit breaker panel , If I had a person working with me and did that just once
He'd be fired in a heartbeat , Always let the person know of your presence and let him do his work and stay clear of him unless he asks you for some help
I am very strict when it comes to electrical safety and I have zero tolerance to anybody who violates my rules
Reminded of a guy at officer training school: At the pistol range he smiled & waved his gun around (not keeping it pointed to the ground). A few days later, he was gone.
Thanks for sharing your story. It's a good reminder of how important it is to not get complacent.
You’re welcome. And 100% agree!
I’m glad everything worked out for you. My sister got electrocuted in a car accident. 34,500 volt distribution line entered at her head and came out her left foot. Leg amputated above the knee because of loss of circulation. She had other exit wounds on back and buttocks.
24 years later, and she is doing well. Had children and no long term issues.
This goes to show that if your number isn’t up, you get a second chance.
Be safe.
Glad to hear she made it through! Safe wiring!
My son is a Lineman in Montana and is always looking out for the BLUE DRAGON.
Fatigue is deadly, regardless of the profession.
It's not electrocution if you don't die. She got shocked.
@@charvakkarpeass hat
@@charvakkarpecalling a 35kv contact that resulted in severe burns and an amputation not an electrocution is crazy. We all know it's literally short hand for electric execution but we don't really have better shorthand for a severe electrical injury, so cases like this one are included. I'd say any case where if the victim had not received medical attention they would have died could be considered an electrocution. Words change over time man it's ok.
Honestly, when i'm moving too fast, or thinking about doing something sketchy, I literally begin to think of UA-cam FAIL VIDEOS, and me becoming the newest star; I STOP AND REFOCUS 😂. Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome.
There's major value in this video. I'm an engineer who occasionally receives calls to troubleshoot industrial equipment. This involves probing around with my meter on gear and in panels that are hot. An arc flash is no joke. Imagine one in a 3-phase panel. I will start wearing PPE. You showed pics but I don't think people realize just how badly these injuries hurt and for how long. Thank you for sharing.
Well said. You’re welcome!!
Got 45 years commercial and industrial under my belt. We did some crazy things back in those days. Glad my guardian angel was with me everyday. Also glad youre ok
Completely agree!
I got an arc flash while probing a 300V circuit a few years back. It vaporized the tips off of my test leads but my meter and I escaped without serious injury. I do so love the "sunburn in your eyeballs" sensation it gave me though! My Fluke 87V took it like a champ and is still in use today. Fluke is the only brand I'll buy for electrical work.
I am diy. I have worked on my own panel to add a CB and 8/3 cable to my garage for a welding machine. Although I was super careful, watching your video gives me chills and I respect electricity a whole lot more now. Thank you for sharing and God bless you
Glad it gave you a new respect for electricity! You’re welcome 🙏
Arc flash and arc blast are no joke. An arc is basically a plasma of super-heated, ionized gas and vaporized metal.
Well said!
Yeah I saw a video about an electrician who worked in a really big industrial mill that I think made plywood or somethng, and had big machines, and he opened a panel that had shut down a machine it powered, it was 2300 volts , and he had an arc flash happen and it set him on fire, they figured out he ran down the corridor and thru a door, collapsed and died the next day in the hospital. That arc flash and then his clothes catching on fire both combined together into a really bad scene that wasnt survivable.
They cited some mistakes, one was not having a buddy with him, he was there alone, I think the arc flash explosion happened when he touched his voltage meter to the terminals, maybe the voltage on the box was not labelled right or whatever it was, his meter was not correct for the high voltage if I remember right, and it melted the meter and shorted the connections.
Here's the video details on youtube;
Arc Flash Fatality Video.wmv
4,185,679 views Sep 18, 2012
The tragic story of how a worker, Eddie Adams, died from an arc flash, and how it impacted his co-workers and his family.
I work in a data center. We always wear CAT 2 FR when on shift.
retired electrician here. Glad the injuries were not more severe. Appreciate you owning your mistake, we all have failed at one point or another. wish you the best. For anyone reading this: i used to talk out loud saying things to assure myself that I was safe to work i.e. main power lines cut by ele company, main breaker off, metered, and LOTO installed. breaker off LOTO installed and outlet metered, etc...that system saved me more than once from getting into a 'hot' box, wire, etc. Be safe
For those not in the know: LOTO refers to gambling. So during work he would yell out "LOTO" and everyone would be reassured he is insane.
People look at me crazy when I’m walking around talking and point, or touching stuff all just to myself.
Good thing it wasn't high voltage...still nasty
Taking ownership and acknowledging your oversight is honorable. Even a master electrician can make a mistake thanks for sharing your experience.
It's good to see how well you've recovered and that you're willing to share your story so others might learn without making the mistake themselves.
Stephan, I know this happened months ago (couple years?), but what really came through to me was how fatigued and stressed you were. Sleep deficit, teaching an apprentice, client needs, all while pretty much ignoring what your body is trying to tell you - slow down, recover from work, find a stress relief - as your brain gets further distracted. I hope you've found a pace more in line with your well being.
I have been able to find a better pace. Really appreciate you and your concern! Thanks!
Wow, your contractor friend was a true hero, not to mention your awareness of taking care of others (old lady), your a good man, don't let anyone tell you otherwise 👍
Yes he is! Be safe out there!
Thank you for sharing and glad you’re okay.
A few years ago in residential myself, we did a generator install with a disconnect transfer switch. My crew and I did all the work in 1 day and we drove 2 hours that day. 16 hours. My crew forgot to hook up the ground rods , and didn’t separate grounds and neutrals from the sub panel that was fed from the main breaker box. Worse part, all the breakers were on and there were welders.
Went to turn the power on and all the breakers. I turn on every breaker besides the sub first. Everything is good. I turn the sub on. BOOM!
200 amp main breaker explodes in my face and melt plastic imbeds in my face. Ruins my beard. Thankfully I was far enough away from any more danger, but I understand
That’s crazy! Working long days can really impact our workmanship. I know I was exhausted and should’ve done a lot of things different. Glad you’re ok though!
Toward the end of my "career" I had become super vigilant about testing power. At a resi service change I pulled the meter and was preparing to start the demo and, even though the power runs thru the meter, I used my tester and found full 120/240 voltage in the panel. I was puzzled for a few minutes trying to figure out where the feed was coming from.
I took a closer look in the 1960's meter can and found something I had not seen in my 40 years. It had a built in spring loaded bypass. When you pulled the meter for service, the power stayed connected. They probably realized quickly that it was a bad idea and stopped that nonsense.
Anyways, kids, ALWAYS test for power with a working meter. ESPECIALLY if you are going to be in a seriously risky situation. If I have to grab the bus or wiring tightly with bare hands I ALWAYS do a double check with the meter and a quick flash/short test or finger tough to be 100% safe. I'd rather make some sparks rather than get locked on to something.
Be safe.
PS. You did teach your apprentice something that day :)
Thank you for sharing your story. You can never be too safe. Things happen when you least expect them to happen, no matter how experienced you are.
Completely agree!
I'm a health & safety professional. Thank you for sharing your story. You've saved folks watching, from being injured or killed. Very valuable safety information here.
Just came across your channel. I have been an electrician for over 45 years. I went through pretty much the same thing only with 480 volts around 35 years ago. It was only because I wanted to cut corners and save time. I came out ok with my hands but had I not had leather gloves on it could have been a different story. Glad to hear that you came out ok. Also, look into getting helicopter insurance. It is literally like 8 dollars a month and covers your entire household. I signed up for it several years ago and had a car wreck in 2020 and my bill was $49,000. Health insurance paid $9,000, then it was only because of my helicopter membership that they took care of the other $40,000. You got a new sub here and I am looking forward to your content. Stay safe out there.
I also heard that when hiking to make sure and buy a .....I think it's a hunting license. Supposedly it comes with emergency transport insurance which would cover a helo ride from a remote place.
Most insurance that covers ambulance also covers air ambulance as in my case and this guys case. They are not typically covered separately. Not hard to call and ask.
Thanks for the tip and glad you had gloves on. I’ll definitely look into the insurance.
Wow, not many people this open, honest, articulate about something that could have really messed him up......really appreciate that and so glad you're okay!
Thanks! Just hope this helps everyone who sees this to think twice before working hot again!
Glad you weren't much more seriously injured or worse. Thankfully you are still here to share your experience as a teaching moment.
As a homeowner I used to foolishly do live work using the 1 hand and rubber boots method. Never again will I tempt fate like that.
That was brutal. I'm so sorry that happened to you, and I'm happy that you are recovering. There is no doubt that sharing this experience will help someone avoid an accident in the future. Thank you! And may you have a successful and safe career going forward.
I was stupidly exposed to arc-flash burns when pulling a utility meter that was mislabeled and under heavy load.
It was in a multi-family dwelling with a few dozen meters.
That was when I was an apprentice in 1981. We were “De-Federal Pacific’ing” a ghetto complex in East Orange, NJ.
My eyes were bandaged shut for close to a week and I will never touch a thing without verifying everything first, LoTo and wearing PPE.
I have macular degeneration now, nothing to do with the injury, but it makes me appreciate sight just that much more.
Thanks for sharing your experience!
You’re welcome! Sorry that happened. Glad you were able to see again!
Glad to hear your ok. Reminds me of a poem my dad taught me, “ electric wires, boy pliers, blue flashes, boy ashes!”
Thanks for Sharing!! So easy to get complacent with low voltage. Ahhh, its just 120. I've heard that so many times!!!! The direct short current on just 120 is Enormous!! Yall, I know time is money and we all want to work fast. Don't lose sight of being a professional electrician vs a handy man! It's easy to do. Don't work hot men! 30 bucks an hour isn't worth your life! Sincerely thanks for sharing. Every electrician reading this knows they've been guilty of something similar and just got away with it that time. Ne-wayz... Love all the trades...Yall stay safe out there!!!
Thank you for your honesty.
I had a similar incident in a 600 amp 120/208 in 2018.
I hope your openness keeps someone else from making the same mistakes.
Im in HVAC, about a year ago, I was doing a compressor swap.
In the process of unwireing it, with the breaker off to that circut, I accidentally made contact with a live 480v heater band.
To this day I have NO idea how im not dead.
The contact was my left index finger and the exit was my right forearm.
I was alone, so I have no idea how long I was locked in.
But the bolt scar on my finger stayed for over a nonth and you could see black lightening patterns almost up to my wrist.
Its 100% crossed my heart.
The only thing I can assume is quantum immortality.
In such I had passed away in my original timeline, but my conscious perceives in a timeline I did not.
Thanks for sharing, takes good character to share mistakes so that others can hopefully learn and get value from your own unfortunate accident! Really appreciate it, we get too complacent with 120/240 split phase, treating it with less respect than we should...
Greetings from an IBEW apprentice from PA.
Can’t stress safety enough.
Thank you for sharing
I’ll go ahead and just say I’m not in Electrician by trade however I am a contractor and I do electrical work whenever legally I can on my own house or on a property. I’m developing something like that and I was working on a hot panel installing two new 20 amp circuits , and when I was hooking up, the ground was real close to some of the hots coming into the 30 amp circuit. The whole panel was live, which I was comfortable with, thinking I would be careful.
I accidentally let go of the ground while hooking it up and it touched the 30 and a 20, it blew up and stuck to it, I had some pliers right there, I grabbed the wire with the pliers and pulled it off. Scared the crap out of me and makes me feel like an idiot. I stripped backed the wired where it nicked them and moved on. But Saftey is number one and should not be forgotten.
Thankyou so much for the information. And thankyou for telling your story man.
So glad you’re still here with us and able to work everyday and make a living. 🙏🏼
You’re welcome! Hope this story makes others think twice before working hot.
Thank God you are all right. Sometimes when we do a job, we think that we know enough not to get hurt. So we tend take chances. We should all strive to make safety first, even if it takes a little longer to complete the job.
Thank you for sharing your story. So easy to get complacent.
Think of the people you helped telling your story.. Much respect..I do a lot of DIY elec BC im in rural NE Idaho.. I watch tons of Vids and the professionals that admit they work in live panels amazes me....
Fellow electrical contractor glad you are all right. We have had a couple of scares but nothing like this I am glad you're okay and I am sure you will be safer and more aware from now on. Videos like these and experiences always bring me back to remembering how dangerous routine can become. To all those who have been saying you don’t need ppe are idiots. You have a family to go back to and should take every precaution to stay safe. Best of luck and thank you for sharing your video and experience.
Well said! Couldn’t agree more! And you’re welcome. Hope this will help some people to think twice before working live.
Well Done. You have helped this from happening to others.
When swapping your panel, always make sure the utility is disconnected from the service. I always pull the meter and lock the box out. If the meter is also being replaced, I get on the ladder and carefully cut both hots and cap them off with nuts and tape, then I use my pork chop and rope to sag the live line to the ground. Once the live line is on the ground, i have a 10gallon bucket with a hole in the top. I throw the live capped ends into the bucket and place it on its side away from any hazards and tape the area off and put down cones. It only takes a few minutes and its worth the time. Ive seen worse than your incident and its a blessing you're alive and still kicking ass. Great video.
Really good tips. Glad I’m still here as well!
Thanks for the video, I work in a 230/415 country.
I think I needed a wake up video like this.
Been a sparky for 30 years, you start to get a bit to complacent after a while.
The one thing you never want to do in electrical is get comfortable you always got to be aware I was a electrician for 11 and a half years and never was comfortable I was always aware. I was trained in residential commercial industrial and also lineman and oilfield work. I was always aware even the days when I was tired. But accidents do happen my boss caused a lot of them. I learned from his mistakes on on what not to do. Be safe out there my sparky Brothers.
Really good input. You too!
As a homeowner this was extremely helpful for me to see and learn. Thank you for sharing your painful learning experience with everyone.
Some lessons are learned the hard way. I am just glad you're doing OK.
Me too!
I was just debating if I should put a main breaker in my sub panel. I think I will so I can for sure kill the sub panel without shutting down the entire house. Thank you for showing this and letting everyone know to double check with a meter and you never get too good to think you can’t make a mistake. Glad you are ok. My Father was a lineman for about forty years and fortunately he came home every night because he was a stickler for safety.
Glad you saw it and you’re welcome!
Good report. Straight to the point.
Fault currents can be horrific.
My dad was an electrical contractor and he used to employ this old guy who was really messed up.
He used to be a linesman for the local electric company and he was hurt by a really bad 240V arc flash. When he was a young guy a wrench fell across some transformer terminals.
He was really lucky to be alive.
Glad he’s alive even after that accident. I’m really glad to see all the comments like yours. I pray this really brings awareness and helps everyone think twice before working on live panels, even 120/240.
Great honest video. I'm glad you're OK. I had a similar experience really scarey. Here in the uk arc flash analysis is not a requirement. In the USA it is. Props to you
Me too!
Thanks for sharing. Happy to know you’re safe.
You’re welcome!
From one electrician to another, I’m glad you’re ok bro
I appreciate that
Man thank God it wasn’t worse. 🙏🏽 Im an HVAC Tech about 2 years in so still learning lol but I was hit with 460 a couple months ago & got extremely lucky as well. I had a crazy mark shooting up my arm & was shaking but kept working right after, I guess the damage wasn’t too bad 🤣 & the mark eventually went away but I thank God everyday & definitely learned from my mistake. Any upcoming techs make sure to take your time, your life IS worth the time 💯
You handled the situation very smart.
Thanks for the video. I encourage electrician of all kinds to hear arc flash stories. Keep this always fresh in you mind, we get so comfortable around energized parts.
I too have had an arc flash take place on my hand, it blew a hole in my thumb.
Love your channel
You’re welcome and I agree. We all can get complacent. Hopefully this video keeps the danger of electricity fresh in our minds!
This is what happened to me 20 years ago trying to replace a faulty 240 volt breaker. BOOM, ambulance ride to the burn unit, burn cream, gloves and out of work for a month, and the kind of pain that won't let you forget.
I've heard a lot of second hand stories about bad, like real bad shocks and burns, I've seen and even had my own close calls, but this is my first time hearing one that actually happened (not almost happened) that was first hand and on top of that you have pictures too... all this makes it just that much more real to me.
I’ve seen a couple other ones firsthand but this one was no joke. Don’t mess around with safety. Especially electrical safety.
Thank you for sharing. It's too easy to get complacent. Stay safe, always.
I worked with one guy who arc flashed 460 volts without any PPE. He blew the fuses at the closest panel plus the main fuses on the power pole feeding the shop. His hands were so burned that it took him 4 months before he could use them . He did not have the knowledge or business being in the panel. The thing that I found out later was this was the second time that he has shorted out 460 volts at the shop! Somehow he managed to survive both instances.
Thank you for sharing this. Glad you are getting back to normal. We take things for granted when working on anything electoral And unfortunately this is the grim. reminder of what can go wrong.
You’re welcome! Hopefully this video keeps the danger of electricity fresh in our minds!
Don’t mess around with any of it, all of it will get you. We all get complacent in what we do and that’s when we mess up. Glad you healed and everything is good now
Well said! Thanks!
Thanks for being humble enough to share your experience for others to learn from.
You’re welcome. Really hope this helps people to think twice before working live!
Thanks for sharing dude. Im always trying to tell people to respect 120/240.
It’s crazy how many people don’t take it seriously.
I took 120v into my hand for a few seconds and it was numb and tingled for about an hour. When you see what arcs can do, melt metal, and shoot sparks, it really reminds you how dangerous the invisible electricity is until you see it. Glad you didn’t lose your hand. Anyone who laughs at PPE isn’t aware enough and/or doesn’t have loved ones.
Great story! Helps spread awareness. Stay healthy, stay safe!
You too!
Much thanks for this message. glad you made a good recovery. Hopefully no lasting effects such as sensitivity to hot running water....
A dozen years back i spent a week at some folks house as a hurricane passed through. Electricity went out for 4-5 days. The home owner had a extension cord going from the outlet on an electric generator to the house breaker panel. I never tried to gain an understanding how or why, but it kept his well pumps running and vital outlet(s) in his home.
I knew it was all well over my head or my experience so i would never dare try.
You’re welcome! And agreed, if you don’t understand it, walk away!
Thank you for sharing your experience. Happy you are ok.
You’re welcome and me too!
I work in a data center with 34.5kV coming into the building and 480 3ph throughout(and well north of 1000A on some busses). I’m going to share this with my coworkers to reinforce the wearing of proper PPE, Live-dead-live checks and of course LOTO. When 35kV is in the transformer just outside it’s easy to start thinking that 480 isn’t so bad…
Its the Current that causes ALL the issues. Thank you for the detailed review.
You’re welcome!
Now im even more worried about working on 480 3phase while im at work!!! Glad your still with us and i hope i make it through my career without this happening.
Me too! A healthy fear is good. Keeps up sharp and on our toes.
What a lesson for anyone working with high current circuits - and so glad your OK. I'm an EE and only a few months ago had a frustrating argument with someone who could not seem to appreciate how dangerous large currents at 120V can be - you sure provided an example I could have used back then. Also a great account how it often takes a number of things going wrong for a disaster to happen just as it always seems to be the case in any of the air crash investigations. Great video and important video! Regards from Canada!
Ya it’s not something to mess around with. I hope people will see this video and change their minds on 120/240. Glad it was helpful!
@@landerselectric "I hope people will see this video and change their minds on 120/240." I couldn't agree more! Truth is, you will never know how many injuries/lives you might save by posting it!
Thank you for this. Everyone needs to see this wakeup call.
I agree!!
Thank God you were not hurt further. Good to see that you healed so well.
Amen to that!
Man, you are lucky. Glad to see that you survived and recovered. Be safe out there buddy.
Thanks. I'm just glad I'm still here to tell the story.
Nice to hear that you recovered and are teaching others by talking about your mistake. This is why I hate bare copper wire in Romex. I can't wait for the NEC to change this and mandate insulated conductors in all wire. It makes residential panels much more dangerous than commercial. Give me MC and THHN any time.
Wow! Great that you healed up so fast.
Cheers for your recovery. Lesson learned from this side.
Thank you so much for sharing your story. You could easily have let pride or fear get in the way of that. You could have blamed others or made excuses. Everyone makes mistakes, thats life. Not everyone has the courage to admit them, especially to the whole world. I'm thankful this accident was not any worse than it was. Your willingness to share helps us all; to be cautious and think about the dangers. We should all leave our pride at the door, this and more could happen to the best of us. Keep up the good work, God bless
You’re welcome! I agree 100% and hope everyone will think twice before working hot.
Interesting story. Thanks for sharing.
This is a great reminder. Complacency is a killer. Thank you. I will definitely come into work Monday with a refreshed outlook on safety for me and my guy.
I’m so glad your good brother
As a 25 yr electrician I’m just cringing at the photos and story.
I been around so many who say “what you scared to work on it hot?” And I say HECK YEAH.
I’m trying to go home all in one piece screw your ego and machismo. Glad your good man our hands mean everything to us. Glad your insurance covered everything too
Some people wonder why a lowly 15a home circuit breaker has a mandatory 10,000 amp fault interrupt rating? That's why!
Well said!
I think I’m going to do a video on understanding AIC rating and series rating panels. I think most everyday electricians don’t understand how it actually works. I know I didn’t learn it until I started my own company and needed to understand it.
@@landerselectric please make the video on understanding AIC rating and series rating panels.
Glad you’re okay. Safety first and working while overworked increases probability of mistakes.
In the real world , panels get hot swapped all the time. I work around energized, open bus bar panels daily that are one dropped tool away from an explosion.
Even on union gigs theres shenanigans and sometimes even more so because their ego's are fully engaged.
Im glad you're still here.
Do what you can to be able to go home each night.
Thanks for sharing your experience and for the reminder to always wear proper PPE
You’re welcome!
Good video good topic. Same thing happened to me (forearm and hand)while working on 3p-480 and using cheap replaceable head/tip screwdriver(throw them away) when the phillips 2” tip pulled out and fell across the line side of a contactor and shorted 2 phases. It kind of happened in slomo so i had a second to pull back anticipating it .. Boom! I Wasn't wearing proper PPE and was kind of rushing, not very smart. Burned arm pretty good but was lucky. Luck should not be part of your electrical career.
Thanks for sharing your story. Burns never look worse than they feel.
You’re welcome! And yes, it wasn’t fun.
Damn man, that's one hell of a cautionary tale. Thanks for sharing!
NFPA 70E and lockout/tagout exist for a reason. Safety regulations are written in blood. The problem with way too many residential electrical workers is they either never learn proper workplace safety or they get sloppy and don’t do what they know they’re supposed to do.
Well said!
Im not an electrician, I’m an HVAC contractor & journeyman plumber. We do work around live power all the time. I’ve gotten a few good zaps I’m my life and have total respect for electricity and the damage it can cause. Even the best of us make simple mistakes. Happy for you that the cost wasn’t higher. Take care my friend
Thanks! Safe wiring!
Thank you, brother, for sharing this story.
Scary stuff.... glad your ok.
Be safe out there...
Love from Pennsylvania
Thanks! Glad I’m ok too! Safe wiring!
while planting for the family back in the day i was walking along some triple phase braided alum wires that were a good 100 ft above us ....Massive wind gust brought a deadish hemlock into a phase which then touched b phase.......All i saw was a green/blue flame about the size of a school bus/massive boom burnt hemlock....its been 20 years but i can see it in my mind like it was yesterday
Glad you're still here with us brother.
Dude looking at your video I am so glad you survived. Be safe and thanks for your video
You’re welcome!
You are a lucky man. Thank you for the reminder to always be safe.
Thankful I made it through it. And you’re welcome!
12/1996 I was trying to finish a voltage conversion on a European built machine. Europe does not follow the US standards so the live wires to the door panel switch are on the bottom and in the middle of the panel whereas equipment built in the US cannot have any serviceable parts above the live connections that enter the switch from the top. Like you, I was very tired and rushed as I needed to finish and catch a redeye flight from Phoenix to Atlanta for an emergency service call the next morning. My left arm touched one phase of 480 while my right hand was holding the edge of the panel. All I could do was watch my arm burn as my sight dimmed and I was locked on. Lucky for me my left hand shorted to ground and the resultant muscle spasm made me do a back flip out of the panel. At the ER, they thought they would have to cut tendons as my arm was severely clenched. Afterwards I had to perform startup testing on the machine in Dallas and on the faces of the motor starters was pieces of dead skin where my arm was ripped loose from when I was 'ejected' from the panel. And yeah, I had nightmares for years afterwards!
Last I heard, residential electricity is the same as commercial electricity, just "slightly" less dangerous, but still lethal.
It's good that you recognized and compensated for your mistake, but next time, just thinking, "Now how is this going to kill me" before starting might help.
As alignment I seen 12,470 art flash with about 200 A on it and it was gnarly thank God our guy that threw the fuses in had an art flash suit on and being 16 feet away was still gnarly
In junior high we dared a kid to stick a paper clip into a standard outlet, bent so it fit into both sides. It went in a little but didn't quite make contact, so my friend used the side of his shoe to push it the rest of the way in. MASSIVE arc flash that went up to the ceiling leaving a large black mark up the wall, and burned a hole ask the way my friend's shoe, miraculously not burning him. I learned to respect 120V ever since.
God bless, 🎉be safe thank you for your time .
Thanks, you too!
Thank you for sharing. You may have saved someone's life by doing so 🙏
I hope so!
Thank you sir for exposing how dangerous electricity is especially to young apprentices
You’re welcome! Hope this video helps some to think twice before working hot.
Respect, glad you’re still alive!!!!
Me Too! Thanks!
Dude you are so lucky in so many ways. God Bless
Seriously! Amen!
Electrician 30 years we were doing a commercial building we took off the door for the switchgear solid copper bus my helper tripped the face of the panel fell into the copper bus explosion luckily another guy shut it down he couldn't see he was shaking we went to the hospital and he says I feel like I have sand in my eyes and I can't see thank goodness the eye doctor gave him a cream he had to keep his eyes covered eventually his eyesight came back the suit is a good idea😊