Near death experience

[Rob S]

I thought I'd share my near miss yesterday, in the hope that if someone remembers it, it might save their life.

I can't go into to much detail, as the health and safety executive will be investigating the finer points, but the essence of the message remains.(Hence me sticking it in here and not the public forum)
I was working (as a waitress in a cocktail bar.....) in the back of a brand new van yesterday, fitting some 12v powered equipment. Something I have done many times before, but not with this van. It was all going to plan until I connected the 2nd power source, when there was a loud crack, and within literally two seconds the entire rear area of the van filled with acrid smoke that not only choked me, but blinded me.
Fortunately, as the smoke turned to fire, I got out of the door I'd left open and behind the van. The fire extignuisher that is normally used to prop the doors open saved the whole van going up.

Now I'm guessing the cabling was either not suitable for the load/ and or the system was nt fused properly. I'm sure the terminals were the right way round before someone suggests it, but surely even if that had happened, there should nt have been a fire if the appropriate safety measures had been in place. I found an inline fuse of 3 amps was still intact afterwards, so it obviously had not got that far:toetap05:

My point is with this post, is that as much as I've been around cars for years like most of us, please give yourself an escape route if it all goes weary, and get a fire extinguisher.
Simply put, if I'd been working with the van door shut I would have died, and if the extinguisher had been elsewhere we'd need a new van rather than a valet and some new equipment.

On a slightly positive note, it was nice to see I can still "shift" when required, and I'm a good shot with a fire extinguisher:sifone:

[Safety_James]

Good to hear that your ok, sounds terrifying!!

If i can i try and get out of working with anything to do with electrics.. such an unknown quantity to me!!

From working in an equally dangerous environment with the risk of things going bad to worse in seconds at any time i totally agree with you. Always be as best prepared for any eventuality...

From a work point of view, a car exploding into flames in your face is quite a scary thing.. Thank goodness for fireproof overalls, gloves and boots!!

[RX7]

Agree with James, I am crap when it comes to electrics and stay well away unless I have to.

Thank goodness you are ok mate and something like this can put how fragile we really are into perspective

[Fast Eddy]

Yes, glad you are ok mate.

In our business there are high risks too. Welding, grinding getting underneath cars etc, but is amazing the amount of people you see not using appropriate atire/procedure.

Keep safe everyone.

Eddy

[Stuart]

Rob.....what the Hell are you doing with electrics? Joking aside I'm delighted that hours of playing Call of Duty has paid off mate.

[Gerry H]

Bloody Hell mate! Glad you're OK and can talk about it. A couple of those elements missing and we could have a very different thread going.

Had the van been an old banger, the electrics can be all over the place from previous fiddlers' but a brand new one? No wonder the HSE are involved.

Can you say what manufacture?

[Rob S]

The factory electrics were fine, it was the stuff the technicians put in that went pop!

[pablo]

Glad to hear you are ok Rob.

[stockcar]

good to see your fine............

on a similiar note, years ago i used a sub-contractor welder (highly recomended by a number of contacts!!!) due to work load to prep a shell and install a cage
on arrival i pointed out all the fire points as a matter of course with a throw away about not needing them or some such!?!
a bit later he appears in the office whilst i was on the phone (split site) and asks where do i find the extinguisher?? just by the main doors says i (in between three way converstaion),
he again asked where they were??
by the main door, why??
at this point he about bursts into tears and shouts but where exactly.......feck
running into the w/shop i see the shell with flames all over it, grabbed an extinguisher (from near the main door LOL) and after a couple of attempts managed to get it sorted.
upon inspection it appeared he wasn't as good a welder as he claimed (and the recomends were obviously by 3 blind mice!!) and he had made the basic error of not sorting the fuel lines or cleaning off the underseal before starting
needless to say i didn't see much of him after he was sent packing - cheaky barsteward even asked for his fee before leaving with a small flea in his ear

[Nik]

Glad to hear you are ok Rob. Well done on your speedy reactions.