A journeyman was working on lighting retrofit installations within an existing building. A new foreman to the project, gave direction to our journeyman to do work inside a junction box and warned the journeyman that there may be energized circuits within the box. Our journeymen only used his pen tester to check for energized circuits, and self-admittedly only waved it through the J-box. After removing wire nuts, he came into contact with a 277-volt lighting circuit and received a shock through his forearm.
Lessons to learn from:
All circuits are to be considered energized until proven otherwise. Proof must consist of checking for voltage first with a fluke pen tester and then with a voltmeter.
On all projects where permanent power is energized to the main gear, meter checks using a fluke PRV240 proving unit must be done once per week. Both a fluke pen tester and a voltmeter must always be on your person during electrical installation. These requirements are mandatory.
If you find that your voltmeter is typically on your four-wheel cart or back in the gang box, you have the wrong voltmeter! Purchase a voltmeter and carrying case that can be efficiently placed on your toolbelt.
Project leadership should demonstrate to less experienced electricians the proper use of a voltmeter. As an example: if you are checking for voltage in a ceiling J-box, you have no place to set your meter and you need both hands to manipulate the test leads, how do you read the digital display?
When project leadership is changed or new leaders and electricians come to the site, a thorough project orientation must take place for awareness of project conditions and project safety protocol.
To make you aware:
Numerous electrical fatalities that have occurred in Colorado over the past couple of years have come from electricians doing work in ceilings, just like our journeyman electrician was doing.
We must look out for and protect one another. Hold yourself and your teammates accountable to following these policies and best practices. This will help to ensure that everyone goes home safe and sound every night.
