As a former mechanic, I have seen a man’s finger almost burnt off by
merely touching the back of an alternator on a car and grounding out
on the battery post. I always removed my ring and put it in my
pocket or tool box at the beginning of the day. That way it was out
of reach of anything electrical. Putting it around the neck on a
chain or lanyard also posed a problem of hanging down in the way when
bent over. Most mechanics don’t try to find something that isn’t
conductive but instead, just pocket the ring so there is possible
danger of it becoming a problem.
I didn’t see what voltage and ac/dc the electrician was working
with. so here is a broad stroke.
if the electrician wears his gloves ( v rated rubbers inside of
leather protectors) the electrician wont have to worry about getting
shocked… at least on his hands.
If you don’t wear the proper gloves for the proper voltage… you
can have a real bad day.
Yeah, i know, they’ll say…“i don’t like those gloves”. And a lot
of electricians get away with it because in most residential
/.commercial situations the voltage is not over 277.
At that level you have to touch, brush against, or sweat on an
energized wire or device to get shocked. Even 220 volts wont arc out
far enough to reach a ring on a hand.
But do you want to bet your life on it? Not me.
Yesterday I worked on gear fed by 12,600 volts ac. Yep, i had my gear
on just to open the box and confirm that i had power off. And i
didn’t wear any jewelry, that’s part of the rules at that level of
voltage.
steve
a licensed electrician who says " always wear your gloves".
Hmmmmm… the materials the ring is made from isn’t really going to
help.
It is the proximity of the hand to the source of electrical power
that matters. With or without a ring one has to be mindful. To engage
in trying to find a material that won’t conduct electricity is folly,
bound to lead to no good and certainly isn’t insurance against
getting zapped from a misplaced hand.
Sure, a husband wants to honor his wife with wearing his wedding
band at all times, but in certain circumstances it just isn’t
possible. Take it off while working… It is much better to come
home unharmed and alive at the end of the day.
If you get a shock on a bare finger it's a localized hole at the
entry point (and exit point and damage between), if you hit a ring
that finger is cooked.
I’ll tell a couple of other stories that aren’t about electricity but
just about being careful wearing jewelry. One is that I heard of a
cook/chef who had a major hot oil spill on his hand from the fryer.
He had the presence of mind to dunk it in cold water immediately, so
he wasn’t seriously burned ~except for a ring around his finger where
his wedding band was. The other was my high school latin teacher who
was an air force vet from WWII. He told us one day about how rings
were banned in the airplanes. Seems they would use a ladder to get
into a B-17, but to get out they would jump into a hatch in the
floor, and catch their fall by grabbing the rim on the way down, as
it was around a ten foot drop. After some rings got got and cut off
some fingers, they banned them altogether. That happened to me when I
was about 16, too. I just off the roof and grabbed the gutter to
break my fall, wearing a cheap, thing ring. It didn’t cut my finger
off but it sure cut me bad, and it almost might have. Just
stories…
I'll tell a couple of other stories that aren't about electricity
but just about being careful wearing jewelry.
I have one jewelry related wedding ring accident that happened to
me. I was filling a small squirt bottle with batterns self pickling
flux from a larger bottle. I spilled flux on my left hand. Gave my
hand a quick rinse but not enough to get the flux that seeped under
my wedding ring. A couple hours later I felt the irritation and took
off my ring and I had a red chemical burn around my ring finger which
over night turned into a ring of blisters.
The only safe 'ring' anyone who works with their hands around
equipment of any kind is a tattooed on one!
I wonder why the moderator chose to not post my suggestion to the OP
to tell his client to get a tattooed ring? This is the only safe
alternative for electricians, mechanics and sailors.
I worked with a state fire department. We had a fireman who had
finished unloading a truck. He jumped of and his ring caught on one
of the hinges. Needless to say he lost a finger. I put up my wedding
ring and haven’t worn it since. My suggestion is no ring at all
Pat- rings…Bad idea. Really bad idea. They deteriorate into smeared
blobs. Trust me on this. My sweetie Tim and I have been members of
the body modification community for nearly 30 years and have worked
in the trade. I’ve spent countless hours talking folks out of
tattooed rings and other such bad ideas like oh say neck tats and
boyfriend/girlfriend names. I always ask what our customers do for a
living and for recreation so that I don’t endanger the wearer. I
would council an electrician or any one working with machinery to not
wear a ring while working. I don’t. Have fun and make lots of
jewelry.
The best ring for a trades person at work is none. There have been
enough horror stories to make this clear. Buy a good one and don’t
wear it to work. Unless of course you wish to be the next Django
Reinhardt.
The best ring for a trades person at work is none.
Amen to that !!!
Don’t wear any ring if you truly love your fingers. It’s save and
will keep you out of trouble. That doesn’t mean that you love your
partner less. Love is more then wearing a ring.