Comments on: IBEW Loses Sister Katharina (Kat) Engnell

By: Ms Sparky

Ms Sparky — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 14:24:35 +0000

Who is the one who dies if you are electrocuted. Your boss? Your co-workers? What about your family. What will they say? She died because she was being harassed by her tool buddy? Your obligation is to your self and your family.

At some point or another about every electrician has worked a circuit hot. But %99.99 of the time it’s by choice. A boss can not make you work something hot. And is your boss providing you will the appropriate PPE? I would rather be laid off and heading to the food bank or my spot under the bridge than trying to recover in a burn center or going through physical therapy because of serious nerve damage or worse, leaving my family alone all because someone badgered me into working it hot.

When I started my apprenticeship in 1979, we worked 480VAC hot nearly everyday. We’ve come a long way since then. Let’s not back step.

By: Barbara Adams

Barbara Adams — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 05:16:42 +0000

I worked many times on hot circuits, always because the boss required it of me, if I did take the time to shut things down all I got was a big lot of feedback from the clients, the boss and my co-workers, calling me sissy etc. Of the times I worked stuff in close quarters like a switch or even florescent light fixtures with the transformers in them, despite them being “only” 120volts, if you get anywhere near the other end of one of those feed wires that have been multiplied by thousands of watts by that transformer it will blow you away. Not worth the trouble, or you could get blown off the ladder, neutral connected or not, that is some powerful stuff and you could die just from the fall from the ladder. I used to work traffic signals in Seattle, those ped signals have transformers in them, and yeah, only 2 lousy little light bulbs, but you can get knocked off your can with those things! No turning off the traffic signals when working on them, it’s just not done, you would literally stop traffic and that is just impossible to do. You just have to be careful and you have to ignore everything else when you are working hot, and you need a toolie to watch your back while you are doing these things. I have even taken a rope around someone’s waist while they are working hot and they laugh, but it could save a life.

By: Ms Sparky

Ms Sparky — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 03:13:55 +0000

Yes….very tragic!

Fraternally.
Debbie Crawford
IBEW Local 48

By: Jennie

Jennie — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 02:28:52 +0000

Such a tragic event. My thoughts are with her family. It is a sobering reminder that we indeed have a dangerous profession.

Respectfully,
Jennie Kordenat
IBEW Local 970

By: seattlesparko

seattlesparko — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 01:29:59 +0000

As a couple of points of clarification: Kat *was* using insulated tools, as per the relevant code sections. I know, I bought them for her. She also did have a tool partner at the time, as well as an insulated mat. All the safety precautions, were just not enough that day; a wet glove and that was all it took. We all know this is a dangerous business, and whenever you think you can cut corners, remember that if it could happen to Kat, it could happen to anyone. I never had the chance to say goodbye to Kat, or to tell her many other things I wish I had been able to say. Please, be safe every day. No job is worth the heartache of never seeing your family and friends again.

Ms Sparky’s Response:
Thank you for clarifying. I was hoping someone would update me after the investigation was over.

I’m sorry for your loss. Anytime loss of an IBEW Sister or Brother is felt by all. We know on any given day under the right (or wrong) circumstances it very well could be us.

By: runsalot

runsalot — Sun, 10 May 2009 05:33:56 +0000

Let’s face it, most of us are “required” to work on energized equipment because no one will accept written liability in the event of something tragic like this were to happen…and to be honest, our jobs are on the line should we refuse to do so or require the circuit to be de-energized which would prove to be “inconvenient” to the customer or client. What client is going to authorize wiremen to shut down a panel in order to land wires on a breaker or pull wire into a hot panel, etc.? To be honest, safety is our sole responsibility, so I suggest insulated gloves be part of each and every local’s required journeyman tool-list. Apprentices should never be required or asked to work things hot because they just haven’t got the experience to do so. Hot kits should be in every jobbox, every service truck, every jobsite where T.I. is being performed…but contractors are scared their tools will disappear if they stock them. Perhaps they need to get sued up their asses for loss of life a few times before they wise up. Our hearts and prayers go out to Kat’s family.

By: susanroth

susanroth — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:23:59 +0000

I knew Kat as a gung-ho kayaker and great person. I am disappointed that there are no more details as to her death. Are the standard practices not really acceptable? Rock on Kat………Susan

Ms Sparky’s Response:
I can’t sit here and honestly say I’ve never worked anything hot when I could’ve turned it off. In this day and age we all know what the safety protocols are. Right or wrong, good or bad, sometimes we choose to work it hot anyway. But, this is why we shouldn’t.

By: christine

christine — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 23:40:30 +0000

My condolences to Kat’s friends, family and my fellow union brothers and sisters.

Sister Christine Hendriks, Brockville ON
Local #115

By: 4sbofmine

4sbofmine — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 09:04:58 +0000

I do agree a toolie would have been a good idea. Any time someone works something hot they usually aren’t alone. And none of us can’t say we haven’t done it before. What happened to Kat was terrible. She always tried so hard to do her job no matter what. She was a great lady who also put herself fully into whatever she did. I just would like to tell her family and all of her close friends how sorry I am for the loss of Kat. Rest in Peace.

By: mack

mack — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 11:10:47 +0000

Yes..I agree, a toolie is always better.My heart goes out to you & your family.Our prayers are with you.Preventable yes. Could have happened to anyone one of us whose been in the field for awhile . So sorry .

By: Barney Fife

Barney Fife — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:58:03 +0000

They should have given her a toolie.
This could have been prevented.
Lets get rid of the state run safety program here in Washington.
LnI DOSH
The standards exceed the federal standards.
But people who run that office are too easily paid off.

Ms Sparky’s Response:
Yes..I agree, a toolie is always better. My question is, Why was it still energized?

By: jdc

jdc — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:31:07 +0000

sorry to hear about sister kat. our thoughts and prayers to you and your family.
Jesse Campau
ibew 441 o.c. cal.

By: NEC Consultant

NEC Consultant — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 21:53:09 +0000

My heart goes out to her family. They are in our prayers this season.

By: YEP

YEP — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 20:05:12 +0000

Our deepest sympathies.

By: Blue's Mom

Blue's Mom — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 20:04:07 +0000

My condolences to Kat’s friends, family and union brothers and sisters.