Lawn Mowers and Transformers

You are so right. When I was in my early teenage years, I lived in an apartment complex where I saw a man cleaning fish that he caught on top of one of these transformers. He took a bucket of water and tied to was the fish guts off the transformer. The transformer went bang and I saw the lid almost fly open. It broke the latch. The guy was lucky he was not injured.

Why are utility companies allowed to put transformers in locations that can pose a danger to the public? Last year we had an underground transformer explosion that was located right in the middle of a sidewalk, in front of a shopping center. It blowed up (this site wouldn't permit the proper wording) the concrete lid 30' away and it landed in the middle of the road. It hadn't rained for months, and this shopping center is less than 10 years old. A lack of maintenance was the probable cause. This could have been tragic, since many people use that sidewalk, and road.

Can someone explain if the man is wearing the proper PPE to be sticking a rake into the open transformer? And forgive my ignorance, but is there a switch here that he's trying to open?

Wasn't there any warning labels on these transformers

You mean that "they" are not required to anchor their equipment, like everyone else in the civilized world?

Yes, the problem is that the transformers should be bolted to the pad or vault. As others have stated that is the correct installation method. If one is in earthquake country it becomes even more important as they can walk off of their foundations during an earthquake adding to the length of outages and cost of damage.

because the linemen do not install the proper hold downs for pad mounted transformers they rely on gravity alone

I agree with the other comments regarding securing the Transformers in place as well as posts and/or barriers. They should also be Danger: High Voltage labels on them. The utilities SHOULD NOT be exempt from labeling as the ret of the industry is required. This should be strictly enforced, especially in the residential areas.

I agree wholeheartedly with Kent. The XFMR should be bolted down to the pad. Is this a common practice for Utility companies not to bolt down pad mounted XFMR's especially in residential areas?

The mowing contractor employee is intentionally damaging the utilty company property. This will stop when the contractor is fined. Utility company has done nothing wrong. Why make them spend their $ for something the mowing contractor intentionally does worng? Not fair!

No actually it is not "quite dangerious" to come in contact with the exterior of a "transforemr box". Review the word and concepts of "grounded and grounding-bonding. If it were "dangerious" to touch it would be required to be so marked.

Not a kids play toy--tru--dangerious = No. The kid may get hurt jumping off of it, true. adults need to supervise kids--

If this is a known problem the utility needs to do something about it like installing posts or a curb so the lawn mower does not hit it.

If it truly is dangerous to merely sit on the transformer box it should not be where children can do so.

Transformers are to be protected by fencing or simmular means article 110 publ8c safe gaurading.or something like that

Sadly, nothing will be done til someone gets really hurt, if mot killed

I am not finding any electrocutions associated with,energized transformer housing (boxes). Is injury and death a real concern here? --Ben

I agree with KENT in regards to the utility PROPERLY ANCHORING the cabinet. Yes, playing on the cabinet is dangerous, but poor workmanship is even worse. BTW, I would hope that the forman of the landscaping contractor be advised to stop running into the enclouser.

Thank You Roy. Information shared saves lives - Mike keep the information coming, it does make changes for life safety.

Another situation where everyone wants someone else to carry the responsibility. How about just a small sign that shows the electrified skeleton touching the box. If they get fried it's part of the Darwin Award winners. If parents would pay more attention to what the kids are up to and less time on this frickin phone they might notice something before it's too late. What can I say the lawnmower moron is just that. How many of us have had to do repairs after that morons been on the job with its mower ?

There should be a physical protection around the pad-mounted transformer!

I'd like to know why this utility company doesn't bolt the cabinet down to transformer pad? Poor installation in my opinion.