Ignorance to Negligence

[bphgravity]

A what point does an electrical workers improper actions go from ignorance to negligence? Meaning, how much time, training, education, experience, etc.. is required that a worker is no longer being ignorant in his work practices and is now being negligent.

Day 1, 2 years, 8000 hours? Im not necessarily talking about being qualified or becomming unsupervised. More in the line of at what point does the line, "I didn't know" or "Nobody told me" not hold any weight any longer.

 

[Guest]

Re: Ignorance to Negligence

Electrical work is like square dancing. It's a never ending moving target. Just when you think you've learned it all they change the rules and add more modules & new technology.

If somebody is active in the trades; does a variety of work; attends frequent refresher courses; demonstrates a willingness to expand their knowledge; is drug and alcohol free during the work day-- then they are probably entitled to an occasional "I did not know that" or a "whoops".

This forum and the topics that are raised are proof that no one person can know it all.

 

[Ed MacLaren]

Re: Ignorance to Negligence

At some point during my 30 years of teaching apprentices, I gradually became aware of my responsibility with regard to safety training.

Many of the (younger) guys felt nothing bad could happen to them, and that I spent too much time on the subject, but I kept at it, and "kept my fingers crossed".

I am retired now. Nothing has happened to any of the guys yet, that I know of, but I'm still keeping my fingers crossed.

Ed

 

[brian john]

Re: Ignorance to Negligence

When a lawyer wants a piece of the action. Nothing agaist laywers just a fact.

 

[charlie b]

Re: Ignorance to Negligence

In the engineering world, the transition occurs when the ?Professional Engineer? license is obtained. That is why the PE seal and signature carries the one and only meaning ?This work was done by me, or under my supervision.?

I infer that the transition point for an electrician would be the point at which the person is licensed to work without having a supervisor responsible for monitoring, and if necessary correcting, the work. I would guess that that would be when the person becomes a licensed journeyman.

 

[tonyi]

Re: Ignorance to Negligence

IMO, its once you're beyond dizzy homeowner status.

If you've got the tools, then you should have the smarts enough to ASK or research anything not within your completely mastered skill/knowledge subset. To not tap the available resources to get questions answered is negligent in itself IMO.

Part of doing a pro job is being willing to admit when you don't know the answer and have to go research something.

[ May 19, 2004, 02:27 AM: Message edited by: tonyi ]

 

[batch]

Re: Ignorance to Negligence

charlie B has the right answer here.

The person who's license is on the permit is responsable for ensuring that the work is performed by competent people and thet it is done correctly and to code.

You can not just tell your guys to do it right. They have to do it.

If the person is doing a job with out a qualified person and is representing his or herself as one then they are negligent to any problems created by their actions.