elctric shock

**momin** · 04-12-2009

hi everybody. I'm new, so please excuse me if i do any thing wrong. My daughter had electric shock in the shower. I switched off the consumer unit., but it was still alive. so we had to pull her off the chrome hose which she was grabbing. we had a shared loop from our next door neighbour. He had some work done a few times previously a year ago. There was no marking on his workers van. we called the ambulance and she was taken to hospital. the electricity board was also called. they took out the main 60 amps fuse, but the radiators and pipes were still alive. he called in more senior electrician from the board. they too had never ever come across such a situation. the managers were called in as well. my loop was coming from next door. they went in. as soon as they put their meter to test, there was a big bang and a flash. when asked, what happened, the electricians said that my earth cable was hanging loose. the board , on our insistence, wrote to the neighbour to assist them in their investigations and to name the person who carried out his work. He has not responded. it is 6 months now. the board says they do NOT have any remit or power to force him. So what do i do now. Please, please advise asap.

**ecclescake** · 04-12-2009

This does not make sense. How did he wire your shower into next doors cu. You must owe him a few quid for free showers.

**Lenny** · 04-12-2009

Think he means the fault was coming from next door, but with no earthing or bonding at his property the fault was just sitting on the pipework????

**Yooj** · 04-12-2009

Yes, think Lenny is right...it is likely that there was a fault to the pipework originating from the neighbours electric supply, and with the poor main earth, then this meant that there was a large floating potential on the pipework in the house. Chances are that it was a plastic main water pipe coming into the house and no decent earth path.

Probably need to know the earthing type as this has implications...as does the 'Earth Cable Hanging Loose', i.e. which earth cable...does it mean, Main Earth from MET to CCU, earth from supply head (if TNS/TNCS) to MET, or Main bonding, or CPC to shower circuit...Difficult to say.

So many possibilities, I think that there are too many to describe.

Momin...my suggestion is to call your local authority building control, ask them to recommend an Electrician (preferably whom they use for inspection and testing) and get said electrician in to perform what is called a 'Periodic Inspection and Test'. They basically will inspect and test your whole electrical installation. This will result in a report which should initially give you an understanding of what happened and how to solve it.

Did the electricians who told you the earth was hanging loose, firstly reconnect the earth, and also tell you whether your electrical installation was safe for continued use?

Momin...I hope your daughter is ok.

Have a read of this link: http://www.electriciansforums.co.uk/electrical-forum-general-electrical-forum/11477-electric-shock-shower.html as it was a discussion about some of the causes of a shock in the shower...It is just for some background as to what to expect in terms of terminology used etc.

Yooj

**Notsosmart** · 04-12-2009

Momin;
I'm suprised the Electricity board have not notified this to the HSE is this because they are worried that they may be deemed liable do you think? I would do a little cage rattling if I were you, demand to know how (or indeed if) they have resolved the situation.
If your daughter was injured like this within a work environment then her injuries would be notifiable & a serious investigation would be carried out.
As the electricity board have seemed to have washed their hands Perhaps you need to contact the HSE yourself.

As Yooj has suggested you need a qualified electrician with test & Inspecting experience to undertake a Periodic inspection as soon as possible.

Good luck I hope your daughter has fully recovered.

**Myles** · 05-12-2009

To be honest Momin, if it was MY daughter....and the neighbour refused to name the person who could have killed her... I would start a war.

edit...Perhaps talk to neighbour again and ask directly, pointing out that a life was nearly taken and whomever undertook the work needs to be checked out. If its a cowboy they can be prosecuted. If the neighbour fails to accept this reasonable and responsible course then its neighbour war time. Also...there should be a certificate for the work that was done with a signiture on it.

**kung** · 05-12-2009

Think as said a periodic report is needed here if the neybour wont help even with whats happend id say their covering someone they know ! id also say as said after the periodic contact Local area building control and it wouldnt hurt to contact HSE as well.
Hope your daughter is also ok.
Regards
Kung.

**Mark.W** · 05-12-2009

Sorry to hear about your daughter mate.

He might not want to name the electrician because there was no electrician. DIY job maybe!

**Lenny** · 05-12-2009

Originally Posted by Mark.W

He might not want to name the electrician because there was no electrician. DIY job maybe!

I thought that too.

**ian.settle1** · 05-12-2009

Originally Posted by Mark.W

He might not want to name the electrician because there was no electrician. DIY job maybe!

I would say the same as with not telling you who it was he probabily not told the LABC he has done any electrical work eg changing CU, kitchen, bathroom etc.