THIS METAL SCAFFOLDING IS CONNECTED TO EARTH.Need 2 more questions to be answered:1.Is he going to be electrocuted if he wasn't holding the metal scaffolding?2.will the current flow through him or through the wire in both cases?
First of all, are you working with AC ( alternating current - like a house) or DC ( direct current - like a car)? Assuming you are working with AC, then: Which wire are you holding? This again is assuming 120 vac - Bare copper ( ground) White ( neutral ) or Black ( Hot ) If you have a bare copper ground wire or the White insulated wire you will be fine. If you have the Black insulated wire in your hand then you are going to have a bad day. Yes to the first question Yes to the second question ( I would hope he was smart enough to let go before being too badly zapped) Both is the answer to the third question, as the person is basically an extension of the circuit - being burnt up - until he touches earth (ground) allowing the current to seek ground. All in all I would say leave any exposed wires alone until you have a professional with a multi meter check it out first. If this is in a commercial ( business) setting the voltages are much higher, not to mention it is most likely 3 phase - so watch out. All colors are referenced for the United States.
I'll assume you mean a LIVE wire, AC. 1. If there is no connection to ground at all, NO. Birds can sit on live wires. 2. The current will flow from wire through body and scaffold to ground, then from ground through scaffold and body to wire, reversing at a rate of 60 times per second (America). Depending on the voltage on the wire, that person will most likely die or even be burned apart.
