CBS: Stray Electricity Can Kill
Interesting report this summer on CBS News:
In New York City in 2004, grad student Jodie Lane was electrocuted while walking her dogs She stepped on a slush-covered utility box with bad wiring.
CBS News checked with the 25 biggest cities and found only a few actively searched for contact voltage, including New York, Seattle, San Antonio and Boston.
[snip]
After being notified by CBS News, the Jacksonville Electric Authority said it inspected all the poles downtown and “repaired 27.” They’ve also decided to “begin annual inspections,” which would include a metal pole that measured 126 volts — within view of the utility’s headquarters. (CBS News)
As the above picture illustrates, we might have the same issue here in St. Louis. Will the hundreds of cities in the region check?
– Steve Patterson
As little as one-quarter of an amp, and as little as 50V will kill you, under certain conditions. Such as where your body makes first contact, and where it is grounded, or as in the unfortunate and tragic case above, where wet conditions predominate. Effing metal scrappers should be knee-capped with an AK47. Of course, it doesn’t help that Goldman Sachs and other entities are hoarding copper and other such metals, thus driving up the price, and making the market for illegal metal thrive. Maybe Lloyd Blankfien should be knee-capped, too.
As little as one-quarter of an amp, and as little as 50V will kill you, under certain conditions. Such as where your body makes first contact, and where it is grounded, or as in the unfortunate and tragic case above, where wet conditions predominate. Effing metal scrappers should be knee-capped with an AK47. Of course, it doesn’t help that Goldman Sachs and other entities are hoarding copper and other such metals, thus driving up the price, and making the market for illegal metal thrive. Maybe Lloyd Blankfien should be knee-capped, too.
Mayor Slay has mentioned the @stlcsb:twitter quite a few times on Twitter. I’m not sure if they’re the right people to contact, but I assume they would be. While I feel that the city (and cities in general) should do a better job of inspecting, with dwindling funding, I think it’s our responsibility as citizens to help report issues like this as well. So, when you see these types of things, and stop to take a picture, make sure to forward it on to them so they can fix it. Besides, inspections will be easier if the citizens report issues as they happen/ahead of time. =)
Mayor Slay has mentioned the @stlcsb:twitter quite a few times on Twitter. I’m not sure if they’re the right people to contact, but I assume they would be. While I feel that the city (and cities in general) should do a better job of inspecting, with dwindling funding, I think it’s our responsibility as citizens to help report issues like this as well. So, when you see these types of things, and stop to take a picture, make sure to forward it on to them so they can fix it. Besides, inspections will be easier if the citizens report issues as they happen/ahead of time. =)
Yes, I report issues to the CSB all the time but as the CBS story points out, problems aren’t always visible. They showed special truck-moubted equipment that can drive down the street and detect stray electricity.
Yes, I report issues to the CSB all the time but as the CBS story points out, problems aren’t always visible. They showed special truck-moubted equipment that can drive down the street and detect stray electricity.