My guess would be about the same yeah.
3
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#41
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Posted 13 August 2006 - 09:29 AM
#42 Guest_Robbie_*
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Posted 13 August 2006 - 09:47 AM
QUOTE (Kevin @ Aug 13 2006, 10:19 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I read into that when you hit an obstruction you safety off above it with the rope then climb as high as you can over as many obsticles as possible before you safety back in with your pole strap and then removing the rope?
That rope is Samson Blue Streak, rated to 8,100lbs. tensile.
It should have a cover over it because the cover yarns will all get pulled on the wood and steel.
I used a rope for awhile but it was three strand, worked ok but I switched to a nylon polestrap and carry it in a pouch on my belt but I'm only climbing up to the comm cables and don't use it as often as the power guys would.
That rope is Samson Blue Streak, rated to 8,100lbs. tensile.
It should have a cover over it because the cover yarns will all get pulled on the wood and steel.
I used a rope for awhile but it was three strand, worked ok but I switched to a nylon polestrap and carry it in a pouch on my belt but I'm only climbing up to the comm cables and don't use it as often as the power guys would.
Kevin,
I see a plastic cover over the rope it's just pushed towards the left keeper in the pic. Or are you saying the plastic isn't enough protection? They described the safety in the PG&E article Bobster posted and said it would be rope w/a plastic cover I believe.
#43
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Fallen Never Forgotten, Support our Troops
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Posted 13 August 2006 - 11:00 AM
QUOTE (Robbie @ Aug 13 2006, 11:47 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Kevin @ Aug 13 2006, 10:19 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I read into that when you hit an obstruction you safety off above it with the rope then climb as high as you can over as many obsticles as possible before you safety back in with your pole strap and then removing the rope?
That rope is Samson Blue Streak, rated to 8,100lbs. tensile.
It should have a cover over it because the cover yarns will all get pulled on the wood and steel.
I used a rope for awhile but it was three strand, worked ok but I switched to a nylon polestrap and carry it in a pouch on my belt but I'm only climbing up to the comm cables and don't use it as often as the power guys would.
Kevin,
I see a plastic cover over the rope it's just pushed towards the left keeper in the pic. Or are you saying the plastic isn't enough protection? They described the safety in the PG&E article Bobster posted and said it would be rope w/a plastic cover I believe.
From what I see in the pic, with the plastic cover moved to the other (working) end of the rope to reduce wear against the pole. If you had a pouch or way to keep it out of your feet while climbing, the rope would be a fair alternative to the retractable. I think one could find a small pouch to stuff it in that would be about the same size as the retractable but with out the weight.
There may be old Linemen, There may be careless Linemen. There are however, no old, careless Linemen!
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#44
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Line-God
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Posted 13 August 2006 - 11:03 AM
QUOTE
I see a plastic cover over the rope
Thanks, I didn't notice it.
It's leaving here 
We're not happy ...until you're not happy
We're not happy ...until you're not happy
#45
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Posted 19 August 2006 - 07:01 AM
I think it is key to learn to free climb first before belt climbing, because when you have to climb around an obstruction and haven't free climbed you will be lost.
Edited by SkLinemanSk, 19 August 2006 - 07:02 AM.
#46
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Flag Man
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Posted 21 August 2006 - 10:24 AM
It is frustrating, but seems to be commonplace all over this country, that if one guy screws up you make a rule that inconveniences everybody instead of just chewing out the one dummy who deserves it. Unfortunately I blame much of this on the fact that the dummy can file a lawsuit and have a good chance of winning even if he was at fault.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort
Sally D
Nashville Electric Service
Sally D
Nashville Electric Service
#47
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Grimple
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Posted 21 August 2006 - 05:57 PM
QUOTE (DoneThat @ Apr 28 2006, 06:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
After over 100yrs, PG&E will no longer allow free climbing of poles. Double safeties will be required after June 20th. We are in the middle of what we call "Transformation" (reorg) and the company decided that the cost of falls dictates this.........
The new hiring policy gets the smart kids who have no idea how to use a wrench, let alone how to climb.
As an employee, and a shareholder, I'm trully dissappointed in my company....................
The new hiring policy gets the smart kids who have no idea how to use a wrench, let alone how to climb.
As an employee, and a shareholder, I'm trully dissappointed in my company....................
Iam truly sorry that you feel this way. Would your family like to know that , because you refused to use a device that saves lives,for just a little hasel you want be comming home tonight or severly injured .
How about you get a call that your son cut out and fell to his death. Wouldn't it give you peace of mind,he has another piece equipment to keep to save his life.
![surrender[1].gif](http://www.line-man.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/surrender[1].gif)
#48
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Journeyman babysitter
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Posted 22 August 2006 - 09:27 AM
QUOTE (bare @ Aug 21 2006, 06:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (DoneThat @ Apr 28 2006, 06:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
After over 100yrs, PG&E will no longer allow free climbing of poles. Double safeties will be required after June 20th. We are in the middle of what we call "Transformation" (reorg) and the company decided that the cost of falls dictates this.........
The new hiring policy gets the smart kids who have no idea how to use a wrench, let alone how to climb.
As an employee, and a shareholder, I'm trully dissappointed in my company....................
Iam truly sorry that you feel this way. Would your family like to know that , because you refused to use a device that saves lives,for just a little hasel you want be comming home tonight or severly injured .
How about you get a call that your son cut out and fell to his death. Wouldn't it give you peace of mind,he has another piece equipment to keep to save his life.
I guess I'm misunderstood again.......never said "I refuse to do it". In my 34yrs doing this line of work, mostly Transmission, I've never fallen. I have used 2 safeties many times before, for example, a newly set 115kv triple verticle dead end with no conductor on it and all the insulators attached and hanging down. Double safeties allows you to get up and around all the insulators, there's just no way to free climb by them. This policy just came down from the people above "because other companies are doing it". We are striving to be the #1 utility in the US and once again we are following........
That's all I meant................
#49
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ACE TRBLSHTR & GENERAL FLUNKIE
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Posted 22 August 2006 - 03:14 PM
SEEMS LIKE AT LOT OF UTILITIES ARE.............BENCH MARKING...........OTHER UTILITIES TO CHANGE THE WAY WE DO THINGS ![Voskl1[1].gif](http://www.line-man.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/Voskl1[1].gif)
SOME IDEAS/PRACTICES MAKE SENSE--WELL OTHERS JUST DON'T
SOME IDEAS/PRACTICES MAKE SENSE--WELL OTHERS JUST DON'T
I AM ONE OF THOSE LUCKY GUYS, WHO'S HAPPY JUST TO BE HERE.... DOING WHAT I LOVE, AND THANKFUL THAT I AM BULLETPROOF!!!!
#50
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Posted 22 August 2006 - 03:40 PM
Done That;
Is that mostly tower work or a combination of stick and tower ?
34 years is quite an accomplishment for not dropping off a stick at least once.![ernaehrung004[1].gif](http://www.line-man.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/ernaehrung004[1].gif)
Is that mostly tower work or a combination of stick and tower ?
34 years is quite an accomplishment for not dropping off a stick at least once.
It's leaving here
We're not happy ...until you're not happy
We're not happy ...until you're not happy
#51
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Posted 23 August 2006 - 07:59 AM
QUOTE (Kevin @ Aug 22 2006, 04:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Done That;
Is that mostly tower work or a combination of stick and tower ?
34 years is quite an accomplishment for not dropping off a stick at least once.
Is that mostly tower work or a combination of stick and tower ?
34 years is quite an accomplishment for not dropping off a stick at least once.
It's strickly poles for now.......but?
I've been pretty lucky in that regard......I always remember, nothing hurts like pain......
I've been hurt a couple of times on poles, and almost killed once on a 3 pole crossing structure (that's a scary story), but have never fallen.......knock on wood......
#52
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Grimple
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Posted 05 September 2006 - 04:42 PM
I really feel for you guys that have to safety off on the pole 100% of the time. The first thing they tought me at climbing school 10 months ago was how to free climb properly. I feel more comfortable free climbing than I do hitchhiking up and down the pole. It allows me to get to the work faster and get down faster. I have cut out before and caught myself while free climbing. I am not saying that it is the safest thing to do in the world but with all this 100% safety bs going around it is going to allow almost anyone to do our job. If the companies are soooo big on safety how about just eliminating climbing all together. Oh wait it doesn't make economical sense. Fortunately working for a contractor it will most likely be a while before we would switch to 100% safety. For those of you that are, I am truly sorry especially for those that will never learn/be allowed to free climb. ![14_3_1[1].gif](http://www.line-man.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/14_3_1[1].gif)
#53
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Grimple
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Posted 08 September 2006 - 12:00 PM
I'm glad I retired. :O)
#54
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Grimple
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Posted 02 November 2006 - 09:13 PM
QUOTE (DoneThat @ Apr 28 2006, 06:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
After over 100yrs, PG&E will no longer allow free climbing of poles. Double safeties will be required after June 20th. We are in the middle of what we call "Transformation" (reorg) and the company decided that the cost of falls dictates this.........
The new hiring policy gets the smart kids who have no idea how to use a wrench, let alone how to climb.
As an employee, and a shareholder, I'm trully dissappointed in my company....................
The new hiring policy gets the smart kids who have no idea how to use a wrench, let alone how to climb.
As an employee, and a shareholder, I'm trully dissappointed in my company....................
I agree. The free climb is the fun part of the job, and the part that give you the most pride.
#55
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Grimple
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Posted 08 November 2006 - 12:42 PM
first off. no matter what you , do and no matter how safely you try to be. someone , somewhere will be killed or hurt. you try your best day in and day out not to be the one, but it's gonna happen.it might not be you or me but it could be the guy 1,000 miles away.it's just the nature of this biz. we are human and prone to errors. secondly if you can't climb, you shouldn't be in this trade.in no way shape or form. you know the ones on a climbing job that always carry back, so they don't have to go up. a guys life is depending one you so if you can't get up, get the hell out. i know all the boys on my crew can get me if need be and that is reasurance.third, the 100% fall protection, yea it's good and yea it's also inpractical. sometimes you can't use two belts, fidgiting around on a damn pole with all the crap they have on them. try'an to get the second belt around the 5 stacks of 100 pr. phone and then the monster bundle of cable then the street light bracket come on this is where the experience and skill come into play. like i say, there is a time a place and situation where you'll want the two belts or other safety device thats been invented... the same with the free climb. if every pole on every inch of this earth was the same build then...what can i say..but there not.they are all difrent some are godly ugly and some are like wow..they set this big ass thing for a street light.we are lineman we are profesinals. our work comes with risk. like earlier i said some will die some will be hurt. we are lineman..........god be with our fallen brothers who we will never foget, for they're knowledge and sacrafices to the trade...
Edited by kp74, 08 November 2006 - 12:50 PM.
#56
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Flag Man
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Posted 25 December 2006 - 08:10 PM
im trying to make the switch from free climbing to double safety belt climbing too. i feel like a new guy trying to climb, pretty clumsy. i wish they would put more trust into there lineman and make it an option. im sure weve all seen poles that we would opt to archy rather than free climb, and we made the choice. and im sure weve all been in situations up in the air where we thought it would be nice to have another belt. when they made the switch mandatory it kinda made me feel like the company thinks im an idiot. made me loose some pride, it just dont seem right. i was trained through a 3 year apprenticeship to free climb, then they throw me a second rope and tell me if i dont use it im down the road. pretty bruttal. ive wondered itf they implemnted it because the number of guys who fail the climbing school? i dont see it being because the number of falls they have had, when they read off the numbers the odds were amazing. the number of poles climbed in a single day in our system to the number of falls, didnt seem that horrible to me, i mean its always gonna happen right, belt or no belt. and i believe 8 outta ten times i slipped i was belted off. i never seen it coming to be honest, but i figure ill make the best of it.
#57
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Flag Man
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Posted 13 January 2007 - 05:49 PM
In our company we had something like 15 falls in a short time, all apprentices, all from districts where they were riding the bucket trucks instead of climbing. there is a reason we take pride in being able to do this job. Not Everybody can do it. those who can't make the rules for the rest of us. our company still lets us make the decision, and I still choose to free climb most of the time, single belt the rest of the time.
built ford tough
#58
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Posted 11 May 2007 - 04:15 PM
heard of several contractors doing this
QUOTE (DoneThat @ Apr 28 2006, 06:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
After over 100yrs, PG&E will no longer allow free climbing of poles. Double safeties will be required after June 20th. We are in the middle of what we call "Transformation" (reorg) and the company decided that the cost of falls dictates this.........
The new hiring policy gets the smart kids who have no idea how to use a wrench, let alone how to climb.
As an employee, and a shareholder, I'm trully dissappointed in my company....................
The new hiring policy gets the smart kids who have no idea how to use a wrench, let alone how to climb.
As an employee, and a shareholder, I'm trully dissappointed in my company....................
a man is not known by the name of his body but by the body of his actions
#59
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Grimple
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Posted 02 June 2007 - 09:20 AM
QUOTE (linecowboy @ May 11 2007, 05:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
heard of several contractors doing this
QUOTE (DoneThat @ Apr 28 2006, 06:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
After over 100yrs, PG&E will no longer allow free climbing of poles. Double safeties will be required after June 20th. We are in the middle of what we call "Transformation" (reorg) and the company decided that the cost of falls dictates this.........
The new hiring policy gets the smart kids who have no idea how to use a wrench, let alone how to climb.
As an employee, and a shareholder, I'm trully dissappointed in my company....................
The new hiring policy gets the smart kids who have no idea how to use a wrench, let alone how to climb.
As an employee, and a shareholder, I'm trully dissappointed in my company....................
The biggest problem with PG&E, is their not teach their apprentices to climb, before climbing school, or after.
Their using fall protection at their climbing school, whitch give them a false sence of security in the real world.
We hate it
#60
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Grimple
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Posted 03 June 2007 - 05:32 PM
Man, yall wouldn't make it on our crew complaining and whining like yall do. Basically, the mentallity where I work is if it is company policy, you better damn do it or be fired. I would say, deal with it. But, we won't have to worry about the hitchhiking thing, we are so damn good at climbing out here in western kansas that it really isn't a big deal.... 
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