Quote Originally Posted by John_Douglas View Post
in this context, it would usually be translated as "when/while + gerund." Будьте осторожны при работе с электричеством! - be careful when working with electricity.
John, I agree with you. But the problem is it only works in one direction: Russian -> English. Yes, it can be translated this way.

However, it is not always possible to translate the English construction of "when/while + gerund" into Russian using "при + noun". I can provide many examples when it does not work. And also many examples where it does.

Examples (sorry for my English if there are any mistakes):

The boss talked to his colleagues while smoking a cigarette.
Wrong: Начальник разговаривал с коллегами при курении сигареты.
Right: Начальник разговаривал с коллегами и курил сигарету. Начальник разговаривал с коллегами, куря сигарету. Начальник разговаривал с коллегами, пока курил сигарету.

While driving a car, he saw a meteorite in the sky. (Hello, Chelyabinsk )
Wrong: При вождении автомобиля он увидел метеорит в небе.
Right: Когда он вёл машину, он увидел метеорит в небе. Во время поездки на машине он увидел метеорит в небе. Ведя машину, он внезапно увидел метеорит в небе.

Please do not spill ash on the floor when smoking a cigarette!
Просьба не сорить пеплом при курении сигареты. - Possible.

While driving a car do not exceed the speed limit!
При вождении автомобиля не превышайте скорость! - Possible.

What I can conclude from those examples - "при + action noun" can be used when the whole sentence expresses something which is directly related to the action expressed by the noun. E.g. spilling ash on the floor is directly related to smoking. Exceeding the speed limit is directly related to driving.

But I am not sure if this explanation is complete. Sometimes non-native speakers know the grammar rules better than natives do. So, I have a question to non-natives (John and others are welcome): do you know any rule when this construction with "при" is used?