From: Jack & John Wright (jwright@CHATTANOOGA.NET)
Date: Mon Jan 10 2000 - 23:24:14 CST
Re: "Seen it all now":
John Blanchard recognized an electrical hazard of cords strung through
trees last weekend at a council camp. I've seen the same thing, at
otherwise very highly regarded camps near me, and some cords went along
the ground, and had energized plugs & receptacles in mud puddles.
But one time I did a very dastardly deed. I reported the serious
electrical hazard to the camp director in writing, placing any liability
in no uncertain terms. It's a violation of NEC & OSHA standards: 29
CFR 1910.305(a)(2)(iii)(G) "Flexible cords and cables... " That was 1
1/2 years ago, and I'd bet the cord's back up by now. The staff guys in
the tent said their dads had helped string the wire a couple of years
back.
Another adult who stayed with our troop that week later said it took
about 2 days for it to be unplugged & dismantled. He said there was a
contract out on my life, and they didn't dare admit I had anything to do
with their Troop, for fear of retribution from the staff that week.
Is this common? I'm sure it is! We ask teens to staff camps for weeks
in the summer. Maybe we don't let on it's a monastery with no air
conditioning, stereo boom box music, radio, hair dryers, electric
lights, and everything they've never done without before, for that
period of time. It seems so inhumane to them, so their first quick trip
back home they grab every electrical extension cord they can buy
(inferior - at a discount), return to camp and proceed to bring
electricity hundreds of feet to wherever their tent is, and plug in 25
appliances in a snakepit of hazardous wiring! It works, the Camp
Director and Ranger is remotely aware of it, and nobody says "No".
Have we responsible adults done our duty? "Certainly", we inspect the
camps for other stuff & safety, but when? Weeks prior to or after camp,
of course, when no staff or campers are anywhere around. And does any
camp inspection team include a professional safety engineer, with
experience to guess and assume conditions that will happen during camp?
How many teams out there even include an electrician, or do unannounced
inspections DURING camp?
Any more similar horror stories out there?
Jack Wright, CSP Retired.
