Scout's Toolbox Talks

GFCIs can fail quietly or obviously — either way, you must catch it before someone gets shocked.

Why It Matters:

GFCIs are your first defense against electrocution. But like any piece of equipment, they can wear out, get damaged, or malfunction. If you don’t recognize when a GFCI isn’t working right, it creates a false sense of security and puts lives at risk — especially when working with water, wet tools, or metal surfaces.

Key Points:

• Buzzing, clicking, or overheating are signs of internal GFCI problems.
• If you press TEST and nothing happens, or the outlet still has power after tripping, the unit is faulty.
• Tools plugged into a bad GFCI might spark, overheat, or run inconsistently.
• Physical damage, like cracked outlets or broken reset buttons, means immediate removal from service.
• Report and replace any suspect GFCI immediately — do not “work around it” or tape over it.

✅ A failed GFCI is more dangerous than none at all — because it fools you into thinking you’re protected.

Ask the Crew:

• Have we seen any suspicious outlets this week?
• Do we know how to test and recognize a failing GFCI?

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