The Real Cost of Cutting Corners -Part 2:

Lessons Written in Blood

Written by: Ken Lulow

There’s a saying in this industry:
“Every safety rule was written in blood.”

They exist because someone didn’t make it home to their families. And more often than not, it started with a shortcut.

In Part 1, we talked about the “why”—why good people, under pressure, in a hurry, or out of habit, cut corners. Today, we’re going to talk about the “what” happens next, when those corners catch up to you.

These aren’t just stories. They’re reminders. And maybe, they’ll help keep you or your crew from becoming the next one.

Story 1: Skipping the Voltage Test

The job was routine. A lineman with over 20 years of experience was responding to a trouble call—wire on the ground, one phase of a three-phase system was laying on the ground across the roadway and the line fuse blown. He pulled up to the scene, saw the line fuse but didn’t verify the downed line with a voltage tester before beginning work or look at the circuit map.

What he didn’t know: Somewhere down the line was a three-phase transformer bank powering a pump station, which was back-feeding the system and energizing the wire laying across the roadway.

He made contact. He lived, but barely. Burned hands, months of rehab, and he never worked the tools again.

The lesson? Always verify. Always test. Always follow procedures.

Story 2: “Just a Quick Look” Without Proper PPE

An apprentice and journeyman were troubleshooting a pad-mount transformer. It was raining, end of the day, and they were both cold, wet and tired. They decided to pop open the lid without wearing the proper PPE—"just to take a look."

An arc flash doesn’t care if it’s the end of your shift.

The apprentice suffered second- and third-degree burns. The journeyman blamed himself for years.

Cutting corners doesn’t just risk your own safety—it can destroy someone else’s future too.

Story 3: Rushed Tailboard, Missed Step

During a major storm response, a line crew was running hard—restoring lines, bouncing from one call to the next. The crew foreman skipped the tailboard at the next job. “We’ve all done this before, you know what to do,” he said.

They didn’t.

One guy assumed the line was dead and isolated. Another assumed the foreman had a clearance. They both moved in at the same time, about to grab the line and get to work. The only thing that saved them was luck—and a yelling apprentice who was holding the voltage tester the foreman had tasked him to grab.

The takeaway? A 5-minute conversation can prevent a lifetime of regret.

The Hidden Costs

The aftermath of taking a shortcut goes beyond injuries:

• Psychological trauma – for you, your crew, and the families involved.

• Financial consequences – lawsuits, lost wages, medical bills.

• Career damage – investigations, disciplinary action, even termination.

• Trust – once broken, it’s hard to rebuild.

But here’s the one cost people don’t always think about:

Your legacy.
What story will be told about the way you worked? Will it be a cautionary tale—or one of respect and professionalism?

Final Word

No one wakes up planning to make a mistake that changes—or ends—their life. But shortcuts don’t ask for permission. They slip in quietly. They wait until you're tired, distracted, overconfident, or under pressure.

The good news? You can choose differently. You can slow down. You can be the voice that speaks up, the one who has the courage to break the shortcut cycle.

Coming Next: Part 3 — Building a No-Corner-Cutting Culture: What You Can Do Today
We’ll talk about practical steps every line worker can take—regardless of title—to create a safer, stronger crew culture from the ground up.