Do you shut down dangerous systems?

[rshuey]

Originally Posted by jbushart

Okay, Superman. Knock yourself out, but don't forget to fix that trip hazard in the driveway. It could kill Grandma when she comes over in her walker...and change out that bad GFCI over the bathroom sink before someone gets electrocuted. And whatever you do, Batman, move the bedroom furniture out of the back room that opens up into the garage.

Hey joker. You're pretty funny. Anyway, open a dicktionary and look up life threatening.

If you can read, that is.

[rshuey]

Oh and arent you in that Ethics group or something?


look up that word too.

[Michael Larson]

Mr. Shuey, what would you do with the situation I posted in # 4?

[Kenton H. Shepard, CMI]

Originally Posted by mlarson

Kenton, your a great guy.

But on what Authority would I as a HI be able to "Red Tag" Anything?

What would you guys do with what I saw on yesterday's inspection?

The wires in question ran across the front walk and yard to the next door neighbors meter.

The authority I have would be... who's going to stop me?

I switched on the kill switch to a gas furnace last March and a bunch of gas exploded in my face. I thought the smell was from the sewage ejector pump with the broken cover. That's what it smelled like.

The home was passive solar and warm, so I shut off fuel supply to the furnace, tagged it and notified the sellers agent. The furnace had been certified by a local company two days before I arrived.

When I picked up the radon monitor two days later, the seller had turned the gas back on and removed my tag. No repairs had been made.

Will a judge whack an inspector for trying to save lives? I don't know. Maybe it's a personal decision. Maybe it's a legal decision which varies by state.

Then again, if you can reliably pass on the liability and responsibility for safety to the listing agent, I'd say you've upheld your responibility as an inspector but reduced your financial risk from property damage.

[rshuey]

Originally Posted by mlarson

Mr. Shuey, what would you do with the situation I posted in # 4?

Personally, I would have called the electric company and had the hazard abated before I or anyone inspected or stepped foot in the house.

Just by looking at it, who knows what was "hot" and what , if any , grounding conductors are present.

I am a people person. I protect people.

[Kenton H. Shepard, CMI]

Jeeez, the poll is split right down the middle. Just once, I'd like to see us all agree on something!

Hey! Who likes to eat cat meat? I don't.

[rshuey]

I just feel that we as inspectors, who KNOW what to look for, should feel a sense of responsibility to protect our fellow human beings. Not all home owners know what they are doing or did is wrong.

[rshuey]

Originally Posted by kshepard

Jeeez, the poll is split right down the middle. Just once, I'd like to see us all agree on something!

Hey! Who likes to eat cat meat?

haha. I am not trying to be difficult. I agree with you. We get paid to do a job. That is "protect" the consumer. I feel we should want to protect their lives just as much as their money.

And no, I dont eat cat food!...lol

[cduphily]

Originally Posted by kshepard

Jeeez, the poll is split right down the middle. Just once, I'd like to see us all agree on something!

Hey! Who likes to eat cat meat? I don't.

..... so yo don't like Chinese take-out?

FWIW - I shut it down and alert what ever authority I need to, to make the situation safe.

[rshuey]

Originally Posted by cduphily

..... so yo don't like Chinese take-out?

FWIW - I shut it down and alert what ever authority I need to, to make the situation safe.

HAHA! i LOVE THE WAY YOU THINK.

[Christopher Currins]

Originally Posted by kshepard

Jeeez, the poll is split right down the middle. Just once, I'd like to see us all agree on something!

Hey! Who likes to eat cat meat? I don't.

We kind of already had this poll recently with several responses where Chris in post 2 refers.

http://www.nachi.org/forum/showthrea...ight=turn+leak

[jbettencourt]

If it is a LIFE THREATENING SITUATION you evacuate everybody out of the premises and contact the fire department and related utility. In a court of law what training and certification gives you the AUTHORITY to tag and SHUT DOWN a system! But I would love to see somebody try to fight the decision of the FIRE DEPARTMENT or ASSOCIATED UTILITY.

[cduphily]

Do you shut down... 6/28/08 6:37 PM idiotic move

Oh come on now, grow a pair and sign it

[rshuey]

I am willing to bet that those that give out the unsigned reddies are the same inspectors that give clients those "generic" reports that looks like a weatherman wrote it...."partly serviceable, check with professional engineer" sounds like "partly cloudy, chance of rain" to me.

[Michael Larson]

Originally Posted by rshuey

Personally, I would have called the electric company and had the hazard abated before I or anyone inspected or stepped foot in the house.

Just by looking at it, who knows what was "hot" and what , if any , grounding conductors are present.

I am a people person. I protect people.

Well here is the rest of the story. See if you would say the same thing knowing the whole story.



It was the first thing I noticed wrong upon arriving for the inspection.

I followed the wires to the neighbors meter box next door.

The neighbor had just come home as I was standing there so I asked if she minded telling me what was with the wires.
She then informed that it was put in as temporary service by the POCO because they had a problem with the power in the neighborhood.

It had been there almost 3 weeks according to here and the POCO had not been responsive to her calls.

Yes they were live and apparently supply power(2 hots and a bare neutral) to either her house or the one I was inspecting.

I guess the POCO wasn't too concerned. They did put the pretty yellow caution tape along the run.

I thought at first that it was a bold attempt to steal power but the seal tags wee intact on both ends.

I told everyone at the inspection what the neighbor had told me and told them not to touch or step on the wires. The inspection commenced from there.