[OG68]

Do As I Say, Not As I Do

I think we all have said this to our kids or apprentices at one time or another. As a retired electrician I definitely know better and have had a few incidents over the last 50 years. But by the Grace of God I shouldn't be here.

The latest was a few days ago. While not life threatening it was a wake up call.
I was installing a pair of 6 volt batteries in my trailer. As I was tightening up the last cable connection the hand turning the ratchet and my wedding ring touched the other terminal. A nice arc took out a millimeter chunk of my ring but a second later I felt PAIN!
Over 200 amps heated up my ring where it burned into my ring and middle fingers. It was so hot that I burned the fingertips of my other hand as I was trying to get it off. Of course I was alone in the storage yard but had the presence of mind to remember I had a first aid kit behind the seat of my truck. A little first aid and I felt good enough to finish the job and go home. My fingers were blistered with some skin missing but it didn't look too bad. A few days later the fingers were swollen as the healing process toke place. (photos)
I finally decided to go to Urgent Care where the doctor said it looked good, gave me some antibiotics and said "Don't do that anymore".
It's now been six days, my fingers are really nasty looking but healing, so I'm saying...

REMOVE ALL JEWELRY FROM YOUR HANDS AND WRISTS WHEN DOING ELECTRICAL WORK!

[4zpeed]

Many years ago and I'll never forget it, in the air-frame shop of the hanger, there was a picture on the wall, in that picture was a hand. Right beside the hand there was a bent up ring and next to that bent up ring was the skin of the ring finger that used to be on that hand. It was meant to make an impression and was quite efficient, to this very day.

Glad your ok,
Frank

[Stuart]

That's one way to get a permanent ring tattoo...ouch.
I was disconnecting a battery when the wrench slipped, and touched both terminals at the same time; there was no harm to me, but it made a hell of an arc and blew a chunk out of one end of the wrench. They do store a lot of potential energy.

[padgett]

If your vows do not allow removal, wrapping with electrical tape is a good idea.

[72projectbird]

I hate burns. I'd rather break bones, than deal with a burn.

[Half-Inch Stud]

Aloe. Too late for aloe?

[OG68]

Originally Posted by Half-Inch Stud

Aloe. Too late for aloe?

Thats when the wife stepped in LOL

[fyrffytr1]

I found that doing most any kind of work can be harmful so just to be safe I quit working!

[SRR]

10 minutes before closing moving a car battery onto the lower shelf of a cart and it slipped and fell on my toe. Lost the nail, hurt for a couple of days. I knew better than to put a suspended load over a body part. Doh!

[Jack Blum]

Years ago a nurse told me the most common ring burn was from early Chevy pickup trucks. The battery was right against the firewall and the positive on the left side. Burnt many a wedding ring off.

[gtokid1968]

I got the tatto do avoid that!
Unfortunly the tat didnt keep both middle fingers from getting broken.

[FirebirdHank]

It's not just an electrical hazard. I worked in the home building / remodeling business for 50 years. there were many times that my wedding ring got snagged on framing or other things. I started taking it off everyday at work. I haven't worn it at all (or any other jewelry, not even a watch) for probably 30 years. My wife is fine with it. My first wife was fine with it as well. Actually I used the same ring for my second marriage, took it off after that day and haven't worn it since.

[sdbob]

After we got married 42 yrs ago I asked the wife if she minded that I not wear my ring. I worked construction with my dad full time.I had sliced the fatty part of my ring finger lifting heavy steel without gloves! So I decided that there was to much dangerous actions like electrical work we did,soo she said ok. Now ring is to small. The wife has been very understanding.I didnt like the idea of off and on,I know I'm married to the best woman for me. I do wear gloves,eye protection,etc most of the time at 73! Been cut,broken fingers,burnt,fell 24 ft when scaffold broke- our guardian angel was looking out for us!

[padgett]

and then there was the over the door exit sign...

[bird72]

Glad you will be OK! I have noticed that the more experienced the electrician, the more they like to work on stuff hot. Blue ozone smoke rules

When I was 18 in Albuquerque in 1974, I worked at a wood shop. An older guy that had worked there years and advanced to the cabinet section had 3 missing fingers, or missing ends of. Couple on one hand and one on the other. The two on one hand were not adjoining, like two incidents. He was cranky and i never asked what the heck he did, like times 3.

[OG68]

Originally Posted by bird72

Glad you will be OK! I have noticed that the more experienced the electrician, the more they like to work on stuff hot. Blue ozone smoke rules .

That is true. Never been afraid of working on live electrical, just respectful. The majority of my experience has been DC for transit vehicles and locomotives. While the voltage is relatively low (600-800 VDC), its the amps that will tickle your funny bone.

[694.1]

Several years ago at a car show, there was a shirtless kid messing around under his hood. He had nipple rings! I still shake my head over that one!

[george kujanski]

At work when I am working on our products, I'm sticking my hands into a machine with several close-fitting electronics boards. I need to take off any metal on my hands/arms because a slip could render a damage a board to the tune of several thousand $$.

Most of the time now now i don't wear any to avoid the off, on, off on.......

george

[Old Goat Racer]

Yep. 40+ years ago I put my hand between the battery and the fender on my 67 GTO. No spark but instantly a Red hot finger. Melted skin.
I too have a permanent ring tattoo. My wedding band is in a jewelry box !
My watch quit working the day after I retired in 1994. Haven't worn one since.

[JSchmitz]

That had to hurt! Positive terminal next to the fender is a bad deal! We've all had our moments!