three deaths from dock wiring electrocutions

[Rewire]

we have had two kids and one young girl all die from poorly wired residential docks. in 2006 our fire districts began enforcing minimum requirements for wiring new docks unfortunatly older docks are grandfathered in now we have had three deaths. I am pushing for Ameren UE who owns the lake to mandate that all docks get inspected and sub par docks either upgrade or remove power from thier dock. So far Ameren does not seem to be willing to step up even though they mandated all docks have encapsulated foam to protect thier expensive turbine from damage three young lives are not enough for them to make this move. I dont plan on giving up .

 

[templdl]

That's the problem with this. It goes unseen until all the right combination of things and events come together by chance with lethal results. Then it's I wish I would have could have.
The sad thing is that no matter how many inspection there are there is always that on person who used an 2 prong ungrounded extension cord, one with a cut off grounding prong, a cord that is frayed, etc. Any inspection should start with the mandatory requirement of GFCI outlets with no grandfathering allowed. Everything that can supple power to the lake and dock area must be brought up to the current code requirements. That would be a good place to start.
Other than requiring GFCIs you realy can't keep stupid and/or careless people from doing stupid and/or careless things.

 

[T.M.Haja Sahib]

I think the dock owner need to be motivated. By putting together all the incoming supply wires in a clamp meter, he may be shown the leakage current in his dock. He may be given explanation that this leakage current not only poses danger to lives but also a drain in his money.

 

[augie47]

There may be a perfecty logical reason, but I don't understand why the Code does not require GFCI protection for shore power connections.
The docks themselves may be wired entirely to Code and the boat that plugs into the dock power can be an electrical disaster.

 

[hillbilly1]

Corp of engineers lakes require a routine private inspection and testing of dock power on their lakes, signed off by a licensed electrician.