Jeff Griffin

Since the first crude ladder-like climbing device was used thousands of years ago, there have been fall hazards. Ladder manufacturers today make safety a top priority, and their products include multiple design features to...

Demolition hammers are one power tool category that hasn’t been taken over by lithium-ion batteries. Even though cordless demo hammers are available, electricians still depend on corded models to do difficult, ­repetitive...

Last year, I started this column to profile interesting and challenging industrial projects from the contractor’s perspective. This month, I depart from that format to cover specific tools contractors need for large...

Crimping is an effective and efficient method of making electrical and voice/data/video (VDV) connections. Properly used with correctly matched connector and wire, a crimped connection will meet applicable industry standards....

Commonwealth Electric Co. of the Midwest in Omaha, Neb., is heavily involved in an industrial project to upgrade electrical, instrumentation and control systems for one of the Metropolitan Utility District (MUD) water...

Working around or on live electric circuits exposes electricians to serious risks, and few today would disagree that power should be deactivated before performing any type of work. Even so, electricians often must work in...

At the 2018 NECA Convention and Trade Show in Philadelphia, 22 exhibitors won Showstopper Awards. Sponsored by ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR, Showstoppers are the longest-running such competition in the industry. The NECA...

Fire and safety issues, wasted energy, unexpected breakdowns, unnecessary wear on equipment, early replacement—these are some of the serious and costly problems that can result from improperly operating electric motors. To...

O’Connell Electric, Victor, N.Y., played an important role in a recent project that converted power generation serving the Eastman Business Park in Rochester, N.Y., from coal to natural gas. Project owner RED-Rochester...

Self-contained portable light towers are widely used on commercial projects for outside construction at night and inside large structures before power is available. Light towers that are easy to transport and set up are...

Clearly, using tracking software that records tools as they are checked out and returned is easier than manually recording or using spreadsheets. Simple tool tracking has become asset management. For equipment, applications...

The hole saw is an essential tool for installing a variety of fixtures. Although today’s hole saws look much like those sold for years, manufacturers have made continuous improvements for cleaner cutting and increased...