Sorry—not talking human body parts here.
I have written about the safety hazards that can exist where the power company connects its wires to the house wiring at the electrical mast. These connections should have proper coverings to protect persons from coming in contact with the hot connections.
I had a really good example of this on an inspection awhile back. From the ground I could see the potential problem. Having experience with this hazard I knew where to put my ladder—my fiberglass ladder. The real concern here is that someone with a metal ladder might not have the same knowledge or foresight.
In this picture I have drawn an imaginary line of where the ladder would come in contact with the bare connector if it was moved over a foot.
A metal ladder could be deadly—-not to mention that the gutter would also become energized along with everything that the gutter system came in contact with. In a worse case scenario this might mean aluminum siding, aluminum windows and wire fences.
I have heard that there are “things worse than death”—although it is difficult to do a double blind study of the idea. Regardless, even a “little” tingle from this hazard might result in pitching off the ladder to the concrete sidewalk below.
I guess it’s a wrap—–of the connectors that is.
Charles Buell, Seattle Home Inspector
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