On Tue, 10 Feb 2009 12:21:59 +0100, "scott" <sco### [at] scottcom> wrote:

>> A common misconception especially amongst graduates. Most of the 
>> electricians
>> that I've worked with could turn their hands to repairing a whole range of
>> equipment from instruments to power generators including the prime movers.
>
>But that is exactly what causes disasters when they don't fully understand 
>something.  Most of the time, sure, it will be fine, but one time they will 
>try to turn their hand to something that they are not trained in "because it 
>looks the same" and the result will be at best a broken device and at worst 
>fatalities.
>
>The list is endless of Engineering disasters that were caused by people 
>working outside of their specialist field, for example when a construction 
>engineer decides to change the design of a structural engineer:
>
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyatt_Regency_walkway_collapse
>

I can't agree more but we were talking about repairing things, I think. There is
a world of difference between design, construction and maintenance.

>> On
>> the other hand I wouldn't let most EEs loose with a multimeter never mind 
>> a
>> screwdriver.
>
>True, the problem is when people don't realise they are out of their depth, 
>most of my EE friends wouldn't even attempt to rewire a house.
> 

Nor would I because most often you don't know what you don't know ;)
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

Post a reply to this message