Have you seen the one where kramer walks into the Ma & Pa store and he looks up and says what are all those wires hanging up there?Then he tells them they should have a electrician take a look at it before the place blows up.So the electrician shows up and gives them a estimate to fix it,and Pa says five thousand dollars i can't afford that,and the electrician say's well it's in violation and all have to report you or all lose my license.So i'm wondering have you ever reported a violation that a customer can't or won't fix to cover your butt?
seinfeld episode
- Thread starter zappy
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bikeindy
Senior Member
- Location
- Indianapolis IN
It's a comedy! Do you really think you can be held liable for the inaction of the owner?!
Maybe not held liable, but certainly sued.
Greg Swartz
Senior Member
- Location
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
I see violations all the time...
I let owners or managers know... rarely do they decide to perform the work... even less rarely do they choose ME, the one who showed them the violation!
Do I report them? No... not even when I am so upset, and take it all personal... no.
I let them know there was a violation... it is not up to me to make them respond.
If contractor XXXX passes you on the highway, are you going to report him for creating a violation? Speeding kills too...
That's how I look at it: tattle-tale-ing.
I let owners or managers know... rarely do they decide to perform the work... even less rarely do they choose ME, the one who showed them the violation!
Do I report them? No... not even when I am so upset, and take it all personal... no.
I let them know there was a violation... it is not up to me to make them respond.
If contractor XXXX passes you on the highway, are you going to report him for creating a violation? Speeding kills too...
That's how I look at it: tattle-tale-ing.
Not quite an accurance analogy, however. Speeding is only a safety hazard as long as contractor XXXX is behind the wheel. Eventually, he's going to go home and is no longer a danger to other drivers.
A violation like the OP sees is a danger 24/7, 365 days a year, until it gets fixed.
Greg Swartz
Senior Member
- Location
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
I understand your point. My analogy still holds merit: A wrong is a wrong.
We let people know they are in error.
It is up to them to make the judgement call whether to do right.
Bad wiring can kill... Speeding can kill... Guns can kill...
I am sure that there are times where it would be prudent to report the violation, but check your conscience first. If you are doing it out of spite, then even in being right... you are wrong.
Rampage_Rick
Senior Member
- Location
- British Columbia, Canada
"Guns don't kill people, people kill people, but it's hard to commit mass murder with Chinese throwing stars"
Gun: Death by action of individual
Speeding: Death by action of individual
Wiring: Death by inaction
Karl H
Senior Member
- Location
- San Diego,CA
I cannot tell you how many times I've parked in a major grocery
stores parking lot and have seen light poles with the hand hole
covers missing with exposed wires showing,and not thought.
"Man, I need to mention this to the manager."But,never do.
stores parking lot and have seen light poles with the hand hole
covers missing with exposed wires showing,and not thought.
"Man, I need to mention this to the manager."But,never do.
quogueelectric
Senior Member
- Location
- new york
Nobody likes a Rat.
ultramegabob
Senior Member
- Location
- Indiana
I notice that all the time also, I wonder what happens to all those covers:-?
bikeindy
Senior Member
- Location
- Indianapolis IN
What are they going to sue you for? If you are not liable how can you be sued?
- Location
- Massachusetts
Are you new to the world?
You can be sued for pretty much anything, if they win or not is another thing.
I can believe that if one of us 'qualified persons' did nothing about a hazardous situation that we were aware of and someone was hurt or property damaged that we could possibly be sued. I am not losing any sleep about it. :smile:
K2X
Senior Member
- Location
- Colorado Springs
Scrapers take them. I see they have some plastic replacements now.
K2X
Senior Member
- Location
- Colorado Springs
In my city complying with the building officials/ electrical inspectors who have no enforcement powers and complying with our "code enforcement" who have enforcement powers are two different animals. Our code enforcement are the guy who deals with weeds junk cars etc. and serious safty issues in dwelling and commercial buildings. I know from experience that in this city it has to be pretty freaking unsafe for code to say anything. But, if your weeds are over a foot high you will get a knock on the door.
bikeindy
Senior Member
- Location
- Indianapolis IN
Are you new to the world?
You can be sued for pretty much anything, if they win or not is another thing.
I can believe that if one of us 'qualified persons' did nothing about a hazardous situation that we were aware of and someone was hurt or property damaged that we could possibly be sued. I am not losing any sleep about it. :smile:
Yeah I don't live on the east coast or the west coast, not only am I not losing sleep I ain't even thinking about it.
bikeindy
Senior Member
- Location
- Indianapolis IN
ultramegabob
Senior Member
- Location
- Indiana
I was called out to look at a couple of parking lot base at a bowling alley, one had a coat hanger stuck under the base like someone was trying to pull the wires out, and got stuck, the other they were able to loosen the cover and bend it out of the way and pull the wires out and you could see where they had tried to splice into the wires, the manager was afraid to touch anything and wanted me to inspect it and put the cover back on. After inspecting it, I think I figgured out what they were doing, I think it was someone with an RV trying to steal power from the light, but little did they know the parking lot lights were 277, I wish I could have seen there faces when they smoked everything that was turned on in the RV....
- Location
- Massachusetts
Maybe Dave knows.
One person can sue another for anything. I could sue you for making this comment. All I need is a lawyer willing to take the case. They'll get paid whether I have a valid case or not.
The electrical trade has hacks, and the legal profession has shysters. Both are willing to do whatever for money.
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IMM_Doctor
Senior Member
I tried...
I tried...
I was working in the Nashville area 2 years ago. We went to a restaraunt for lunch. Coming out of the restroom I saw a hand-written temporary sign that said "Dont touch cigarette machine while talking on the pay phone".
I was curious. A few days later, I made sure I brought my Wiggy to lunch. I measured the full 120 vac solenoid pulled-in betwwen the pay phone and the cigarette machine. I noticed two major possible problems, the cigarette machine had its line cord spliced with black tape, and it was also plugged into a surface mounted Wiremold box that was sloppily installed.
Returning to the table, I told the waitress that there was a severe electrocution hazzard present, and she should tell her boss. She laughed it off, and went on her way.
I tried...
I was working in the Nashville area 2 years ago. We went to a restaraunt for lunch. Coming out of the restroom I saw a hand-written temporary sign that said "Dont touch cigarette machine while talking on the pay phone".
I was curious. A few days later, I made sure I brought my Wiggy to lunch. I measured the full 120 vac solenoid pulled-in betwwen the pay phone and the cigarette machine. I noticed two major possible problems, the cigarette machine had its line cord spliced with black tape, and it was also plugged into a surface mounted Wiremold box that was sloppily installed.
Returning to the table, I told the waitress that there was a severe electrocution hazzard present, and she should tell her boss. She laughed it off, and went on her way.
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