Screw in between a breaker?

[sepefrio]

First off, as you can see, I couldn't remove the panel because of the shelf installed over it. Also, every outlet in the house, except one, that I tested show as Open ground. As such I referred the panel and the outlets to an electrician.

But, lets say you open a panel and see a screw like this. Would you go further? Is there a reason for this?

Top right breaker.

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[Brandon Whitmore]

The panel is back- fed. The service wires run to the breaker and the breakers supply power to the bus bars. The breakers must be secured in place so they can't pop free. If that breaker popped off the bus, the breakers would still be hot which would be a pretty good safety issue.

[sepefrio]

So my gut was right. Even if I could have opened it, I shouldn't?

[randynavarro]

No. It's ok to open it. The job of the screw is to keep that breaker from falling out.

Removing the dead front cover would be very easy.

[Brandon Whitmore]

I love those panels that have pins(?) holding the deadfront in place. It just makes my job that much easier/ safer.