Water Well Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/681918
"This happened to a guy I know," Crayon says. "He contacted a wire and damaged it. There was an explosion that threw him and his partner about 15 feet in the air with a flash of heated-up copper, which ended up melting to the surface of the rig. He survived, but he didn't drill another hole for a while." Protect yourself by calling 811 before starting any project so underground util- ities can be marked ahead of time. You can find direct phone numbers and state- specific information, including how far in advance you should have the utilities marked and how long the marks are good for. Go to www.call811.com. Even then, you should take care when digging because an underground line may be mis- marked. It could also be deeper or more shallow than you ex- pect it to be. One-call services locate public utilities only, but you can hire a company to locate private utilities before you start work. "When we come into contact with an underground wire, we become the perfect fuse," Renner says. "We're in the ground and have moist soil, so it goes right through you and stops your heart." Working with electricity Sometimes, the most dangerous electrical hazard is the one you know is there. You know there will be power when in- stalling or servicing pumps and while working with power tools. Yet, it's what comes to mind when Renner thinks about contractors electrocuting themselves on the job. Too few con- tractors use lockout tagout kits or voltmeters, he says. "Voltmeters are the most integral safety device we have in the industry. In their lifetime, (contractors) have a 50/50 chance of being electrocuted if they work with power and don't have meters," Renner adds. "I know too many guys who say they use a screwdriver. They know there's power when it flashes in front of them. They have developed their own way of diagnosing pumps without meters that's really unsafe." In addition to voltmeters, your employer should provide a lockout tagout kit and train you on how to use it. Always use the lockout tagout device even when you think you're alone. For example, a man who is your customer may know you're at his house and leave you alone. But when his wife comes home and tries to do a load of laundry, she'll see the circuit breaker is off, and flip it back on—not knowing that you're working! "Stranger things have happened," Crayon says. "It's a very simple scenario that can easily be replicated day in and day out around the country. And you're the guy holding the pump." Ground fault circuit interrupters, or GFCIs, are required to be installed at the power source when using fixed electricity or when using a tool that uses water, like a cut saw, or while using a tool in a wet environment. Your employer should provide it, and they're designed to recognize a link to ground and shut off the power between 1/35th and 1/40th of a second (that fast!). You should also inspect the electrical cords on your power tools and extension cords before using them each day. Exten- sion cords, known as flexible cords by OSHA, can't be rebuilt or taped. They can't have any breaks in them or have missing grounding plugs. They also must be appropriately sized for the equipment being used. And when cleaning up for the day, don't wind the electrical cords up around your arm. Doing that could damage the inside of the insulation. The wrong way and the right way to wrap an extension cord. ELECTRICITY from page 19 waterwelljournal.com 20 June 2016 WWJ DACUM Codes To help meet your professional needs, this article covers skills and competencies found in DACUM charts for drillers and pump installers. DO refers to the drilling chart and PI represents the pumps chart. The letter and number immediately following is the skill on the chart covered by the article. This article covers: DOA-4; DOC-5, 11, 12; DOD-5, 6; DOI-3; DOK-8, 9, 10; PIB-1, 2, 5, 9; PIE-2, 3, 7, 11; PIG-2, 3 More information on DACUM and the charts are available at www.NGWA.org. Cord Requirements for Flexible Cords/Extension Cords Cord Total Length (in feet) Nameplate 0–25 feet 26–50 feet 51–100 feet Amps 0–6 18 AWG 16 AWG 16 AWG 6–10 18 AWG 16 AWG 14 AWG 10–12 16 AWG 16 AWG 14 AWG 12–16 14 AWG 12 AWG do not use