On 18/10/2012 22:29, Bob Eager wrote:
On Thu, 18 Oct 2012 22:04:52 +0100, Michael Kilpatrick wrote:



The point is that it is absurd to imagine that the arcing suddenly began
today or that it will be significantly worse tomorrow morning. It just
happened that someone noticed it today, not yesterday or last week, or
last month even. The idea that the problem *must* be attended to
*immediately* if someone phones at, say, 3pm is just bonkers. As I said,
trees don't spring up overnight.

Of course. But, if it was reported at 3 p.m., and at 4 p.m. someone was
injured as described, the power company would be liable...


Well, it follows that I wouldn't hold them liable. I take the
consequences of my own philosophies, obviously.

Besides, it's a rather fatuous argument. If it were reported at 3pm but
it took 2hrs for a team to be mobilised then it's still too late for
someone injured at 4pm. Which indicates either that the network should
be inspected regularly to *prevent* such incidents or that it's
pointless trying to eliminate any such liability claims - so just don't
worry about it and do it in the morning (unless the call were made at
10am in which case we'd all expect the team on site by 3pm and hopefully
finished before dusk.

Michael