This originally appeared in the UMBA Journal, Vol 17, Number 1, January-February 1995.  It was written in response to a past ABANA presidents message about using GCFI outlets as a means to prevent electrical shocks and electrocution hazards.

    As an electrician licensed for residential, commercial and industrial work, (in addition to my blacksmithing suares) I was somewhat concerned by misleading information presented in the ABANA Presidents Message.  Mr. Carr's heart was certainly in the right place, although his advice was somewhat incomplete.
    As he indicated, improperly grounded power tools/electrical systems can indeed create a dire hazard.  However, to say that GFCIs are a substitute for a properly grounded tool/electrical system or a panacea for accidental electrocution is, coming from the fella who gets the call to fix the thing that laid poor Fred out, a comforting thought which could cost you your life.
    The unfortunate thing about those inexpensive GFCIs to which are referred is the nasty propensity to fail, unable to shut down, when subjected to electrical surges, particularly those caused by proximate lightning strikes.  This has the regrettable effect of creating the illusion of absolute safety while providing none.  This type of surge is only predictable in its unpredictability, as I have often replaced a slug of GFCIs which were wiped out by lightning that did an end run around the lightning arrestors and surge suppressers.  Such arrestors and suppressers will often protect some equipment, but they're not bulletproof enough to bet your life on.  Therefore after every electrical storm or suspected surge each GFCI must be tested before use.  It is also well to note that panel mounted GFCIs are a good deal more resistant to surge damage and more durable under  constant heavy loads than their point of use brethren, but not so much so that you'd want to bet your life on them either.
    The safest electrical tools are backed up with all the gizz-whizzes, but the most reliable safety feature on any tool is to supply the electricity a more attractive path back to ground than your body.  It is this concept that keeps us demented electricians alive while working on hot circuits (Do not attempt this!!!).  This is a concept which does not depend on microcircuits or other golly-goshisms which cannot be visually examined.  So, with all due respect to Mr. Carr, if you are using an electrical tool while you yourself are grounded, (In contact with plumbing, Metal ducting, wet floors, metal building parts etc.) make sure that the tool is better grounded and the GFCI is working and there is someone close enough to hear you scream (Read: just don't do it, unground yourself first!).
    One parting thought: a few years ago a customer, furious at my packing up early in the day during a storm, demanded to know why I was leaving so early.
    "I have great respect for lightning."
    "Well you're an electrician; you're supposed to know how to stay away from electricity!"
    "I do.  I'm gettin' in my truck and goin' home and once I get there I'm stayin' away from my plumbing, electrical and phone.  I'd suggest you do the same."