Ecmweb 7065 405ecm18fig2
Ecmweb 7065 405ecm18fig2
Ecmweb 7065 405ecm18fig2
Ecmweb 7065 405ecm18fig2
Ecmweb 7065 405ecm18fig2

Short Circuits

May 1, 2004
Everyone makes mistakes. Some are just funnier than others

Rung Up

As an electrician in a factory 20 years ago, I was working off an extension ladder, which was leaning on a ceiling beam, while running conduit to hook up a piece of equipment. I was a little green at that time and pushing hard to get the job done before the end of the day. About a half-hour before quitting time, I finished running the conduit, pulling the wires, and checking the motor rotation. I went to take the ladder down, but discovered I couldn't because I had run the conduit between two rungs of the ladder. It was too late to try to correct my mistake, so I had to tell my boss about it. Everybody had a good laugh except me and my partner on the job — he had been working right alongside me but hadn't noticed the mistake either.
Ron Kosinski
Warrington, Pa.

Driver's Ed

Once in the mid '80s, I was driving ground rods and running ground wire before setting a pre-cast utility transformer pad in place at a car wash facility. I forgot to grab the ground rod driver that morning, so I had to improvise. I had seen the landscape contractors use a post driver to set supports for some of the trees they were planting, so I borrowed it. All was going fine until the 8-foot rod was about 4 feet into the ground. As I began my next downward stroke the top of the rod caught the bottom edge of the driver. I was leaning into it, so all of my downward force was transferred to the driver and it came back and hit me in the head. Not to be deterred, I started swinging the driver again. I thought I was beginning to sweat pretty hard, but I soon realized it wasn't sweat running down my face. The top of the driver had cut my forehead open. Five stitches — and a bit of blood loss — later, I decided my dad was right when he told me to always “use the right tool for the job.”
Craig Olson
Windsor, Ca.

Illustrations by Clint Metcalf

About the Author

EC&M Staff

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EC&M, create an account today!

Sponsored Recommendations

Electrical Conduit Comparison Chart

CHAMPION FIBERGLASS electrical conduit is a lightweight, durable option that provides lasting savings when compared to other materials. Compare electrical conduit types including...

Fiberglass Electrical Conduit Chemical Resistance Chart

This information is provided solely as a guide since it is impossible to anticipate all individual site conditions. For specific applications which are not covered in this guide...

Considerations for Direct Burial Conduit

Installation type plays a key role in the type of conduit selected for electrical systems in industrial construction projects. Above ground, below ground, direct buried, encased...

How to Calculate Labor Costs

Most important to accurately estimating labor costs is knowing the approximate hours required for project completion. Learn how to calculate electrical labor cost.