Author -
Submitted By -Dig In
I am a lineman with 15 years experience. One day my subforeman and I were sent on a trouble call. A contractor had dug up a 2400v underground cable. When we got there we had a look in the hole, we could see that the cable was cut in half. We left to go install grounds before beginning repairs. We told the contractor to keep everyone out of the hole. When we got to the dip pole, the switch was still closed. Upon further inspection we found that the fuse was still good. ONE SIDE OF THE DAMAGED CABLE WAS STILL ALIVE!! We isolated , phased dead ,and installed grounds, we also spiked the cable back in the hole. When we began work on the cable, we found that as the backhoe snagged the cable it stretched it. The conductor broke first, and the insulation was stretched out 3" past the ends of the conductor. This could have been a very bad situation. NEVER assume anything is dead, no matter how you fine it. Always prove it dead first.