A memory crossed my mind this morning as I watched a tower Crane been put up in town, I used to operate Tower cranes many Years ago, one day the crane broke down.
In walked the sparky saying what's up with the patient, I told him etc , he proceeded up the lower tower platform, approx 20ft above ground, where the main panel was located on the Potain Record 646.
I was getting somewhat concerned at this point, he opened the panel seconds later loud bang and I mean sonic boom loud, the sparky cleared the crane 20 ft above the ground, and hitting a dumpster bin before hitting the ground. when we got to him he was burned quite badly,with a mild smell of burning meat in the air , which was him, he had put his hands into the very high voltage panel before taking off his rings , watch, and necklace chain, oh and sun glasses, none of which the medics could get off him, as they seemed to be welded to the skin that was still attached. he was just about alive, and he did survived, he was in hospital for 8 months, he didn't follow the rules, regarding working on live Tower Cranes, the rules were written by him as he was the lead electrician. if the amps had matched the volts, he would have been diced as he went through the tower, as it was he had 2 broken legs, a broken arm , dislocated should and 3rd degree burns, to face , arms , and neck. This happened about 40 Years ago, can you imagine what the Health and Safety would say theses days
