Why does an electrician use one hand to perform work and the other hand placed on his hip?

Question

Thanks Marc, where can I find more detail on this?

Thanks Timbo, I'm on the job and had to get an answer - no one ever heard of that practice before.

Easy Bruzer, my crew and I are not electricians, we are only observers - but I subscribe to your thoughts 100%.

Answer 1

if he gets energized the electrons wont go thru his heart

Answer 2

This is standard practice! It is taught in Electrical 101 on the first day and is drilled until the last. Anybody who works on or with electricity and does not know this is patiently unqualified and has absolutely no business working with electricity. Any body who knows this and does not practice it is patiently unqualified. Working with one hand can be clumsy, and takes a lot of practice. You will naturally want that second hand to come up and help but, of course you must resist. But with time becomes second nature.

I recommend that if you are working on electricity and you do not know this, or do not practice it, that you quit your job and get a job you are qualified to perform before you kill yourself or somebody else.

Answer 3

So that if he's working on a live circuit he won't be touching an earth point with his other hand and give himself an electric shock (provided he's wearing insulated footwear of course!) We used to do a similar thing when repairing televisions, keeping one hand in a pocket, the shock from the final anode of a TV tube can be lethal ! And it HURTS !

Answer 4

To balance himself and to have one hand free in case he needs something

Answer 5

i am not practicing it.. i become once an electrician but i never used to it

Answer 6

Because we're good, and we can

Answer 7

because he's weird