5 year old electricuted

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As a parent of 3 I can't Begin to imagine the pain of the family.
As an electrician I can't imagine why the transformer was open enough for a child to get into it. A tragedy for all involved.
 
I originally closed this thread due to comments questioning the value of the thread itself, that at the time I agreed with. After some discussion among the moderators, it has been decided that the thread has merit and should be reopened.

The detracting posts have been moved to the relocation forum.

I apologize for the delay, and appreciate the patience Brother has displayed in this matter. :cool:

If you find this thread to be waste of your time, then find something else to read. :)
 
This reminds us how dangerous our jobs are. Sometimes we take the day to day routine of our jobs for granted. Glad to see this post reopened.
 
George Stolz said:
I originally closed this thread due to comments questioning the value of the thread itself, that at the time I agreed with. After some discussion among the moderators, it has been decided that the thread has merit and should be reopened.

The detracting posts have been moved to the relocation forum.

I apologize for the delay, and appreciate the patience Brother has displayed in this matter. :cool:

If you find this thread to be waste of your time, then find something else to read. :)
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Thanks for bringing back the thread. ;) As from my interpertation of the article, I question the proper electrical installation of the transformer, without guards, locks or a fence around it. What do you others think??? I have not seen any transformers accessible to non qualified personel without some type of lock, guard etc..
 
brother said:
Thanks for bringing back the thread. ;) As from my interpertation of the article, I question the proper electrical installation of the transformer, without guards, locks or a fence around it. What do you others think??? I have not seen any transformers accessible to non qualified personel without some type of lock, guard etc..
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Who says that it did not? People for some reason or another break into these things, then have flashes of common sense - but leave it open for tragedy. Or what may seem like a fence or barrier to an adult, is a challenge to a child.
 
e57 said:
Who says that it did not? People for some reason or another break into these things, then have flashes of common sense - but leave it open for tragedy. Or what may seem like a fence or barrier to an adult, is a challenge to a child.
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now wait a minute, we are talking about a '5 YEAR OLD' not some teenager. I think it would be little more of a challenge for a 5 yr!! With proper electrical safe guards, I still see this as preventable.
 
brother said:
now wait a minute, we are talking about a '5 YEAR OLD' not some teenager. I think it would be little more of a challenge for a 5 yr!! With proper electrical safe guards, I still see this as preventable.
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At 5 years old I could easily slip through the fence of the junk yard across the street from where I lived. And by "easily" - I mean with ease due to my puny head size, regardless of the threat of the doberman in there. For that matter, the sub-station up the block that I got into when I was 8 - and today I can be thankfull that it 'takes a village' and that some observant adult passer-by saw us and stopped to scream at us about the dangers of that big gated area with 2 dozen basket balls trapped in it. We could fit where I don't think any teenager with a larger hat size could....
 
I have to chime in here and make a few comments:

First off, gentlemen, PLEASE watch the comments. This thread was already closed once due to bickering. Let's focus on a few of the key issues:

A lot of padmount gear, transfomers and switches alike, are NOT fenced in. The POCOs rely on the padlocks and/or latches to keep the gear closed. If the padlock is damaged, missing due to vandalism or was accidently left unlocked, the gear is very easy to get into.

Most POCOs try to be very viligent on keeping their gear closed and locked, but they have neither the manpower or the crystal ball to ensure that EVERY piece of gear is closed and locked 24/7. SO it is up to the people who are affected by or close to that gear to call it in.

All POCOs appreciate a phone call to their emergency service lines to notify them of gear that is open or damaged...be SURE to emphasise to the operator (who may not realize the full scale of the danger) that it IS an emergency situation. Oh, and be helpful and give them all the numbers on the gear when you call, it will help them ID what it is and where it's at. Take a look at THIS THREAD

Many kids these days, like it or not, are simply somewhat lacking in common sense and respect for other's property, but it is a fact of life. Deal with it. Kids are also smarter, and physically bigger and stronger at younger ages. It is entirely possible that at some point, kids in that area broke or removed that lock from that transformer. They are simply not aware of how dangerous that gear is though. So a number of factors built up in this case and resulted in the death of a child.

The parent(s) of that child, and that child's friends, are certainly traumatized by what happened. A lot of people are hurt by this and learned a very costly and grim lesson.

Let's keep this thread alive by pointing out CONSTRUCTIVE, IMPERSONAL possible solutions to prevent this tragedy from happening again.
 
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This is not the Dr Phil forum, the topic of this thread will remain on the electrical aspects of this story and will not be allowed to drift into social commentary.

Please continue. :smile:
 
Was this a poco transformer ? Why was it not closed and locked. Here it would not be open without a poco person standing there. Still bit upset about some of the responces over a kid dieing.
 
Jim W in Tampa said:
Still bit upset about some of the responces over a kid dieing.
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Hazards are all around us. Shame on the person who left a transformer unsecured, if that was the case. Personal responsibility, however, is still an important part of staying alive. Be aware of your surroundings and do not permit those in your care to get into hazardous situations.
 
mdshunk said:
Hazards are all around us. Shame on the person who left a transformer unsecured, if that was the case. Personal responsibility, however, is still an important part of staying alive. Be aware of your surroundings and do not permit those in your care to get into hazardous situations.
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I would venture a guess that most parents probably couldn't identify a padmount transformer or the hazard contained within. Many of the newer ones are plastered over with warning labels, but many exists that do not have any warning placards, or they have fallen off or have been painted over.
 
Brother,

It is not that uncommon in Arizona to install dry type transformers outdoors. I don't recall

any with a fence around them, these include school yards !! I don't think the NEC requires

any extra protection, maybe it should.
 
I"m gonna stay on topic here and say that this is what happens when you let your crack heads and hacks do electrical work. Someone was in such a rush they left the cover off. Hope they find the perpetrator and sue the heck outa em.
 
In my area pad mount transformers are everywhere, even peoples front yards. Virtually none of them have fences or need fences assuming the access doors are properly secured and locked.
 
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