[Viking2002]

Back where I come from, this happens all the time. Copper wiring, copper plumbing. They like to loot the local rail yards, too. Salvage companies make a pretty penny going in and gutting buildings for this sort of stuff. But one high-amp shock can ruin your life, if it doesn't cook you off in the first couple of seconds. My son-in-law and his wife ended up living in our house for a year because of this (somewhat) same thing - he worked for a fly-by-night salvage outfit that sent him into a commercial warehouse to gut the high-voltage feeder rails out of the big circuit boxes, and assured him that the power to the entire property was cut.

He spent six weeks in the region's best burn hospital from the charge he took. Melted his boots off his feet. Went through three skin grafts, and a lot of psychotherapy from the neural damage it caused. His court settlement was enough to buy a beautiful, remodeled home in town.

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away, for his name is Obama."

[Minn]

His court settlement was enough to buy a beautiful, remodeled home in town.

Seems small consolation.

[Navy Patriot]

Never take anyone’s word for it.

[DariusBane]

Son in law never heard of an amp meter? Good one for eighty, a cheap harbor freight one for around 12 bucks.

But yes that sucks. Guess he just didn’t have the knowledge to ask for an amp meter. Being young can suck.

[AlexW]

“assured him that the power to the entire property was cut.”

Having worked in electronics all of my life, I would NEVER
take someones word “the power is off”, without my checking it first hand, and I do not mean by putting my hand on it.

[GeronL]

My Brother in Law was taking soil samples, the power was supposed to be off on an overhead wire, he has no right hand now. He got an okay settlement.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

First rule of electrical work is to NEVER take anyone’s word that the power is off-—ALWAYS check and confirm yourself.

[Sawdring]

Apparently he didn’t check to see if stuff was live for himself.

[SeeSac]

But one high-amp shock can ruin your life, if it doesn't cook you off in the first couple of seconds.

It only takes milliamps to kill. 200 milli-amps can make the heart fibrillate. One-hundredth of an amp is painful and one-tenth makes the muscles contract.