[bloodfeast1]

Ok I passed the written test for PG&E in San Francisco no problem. Then I had to go do the physical test. I've worked in cable for about 4 years so all of the test was basic stuff for me except for one part. They tested me on lifting a crossarm with an insulator in it up the pole with a rope and pulley. When I looked at it it looked easy but when I went to do it I realized it was nylon rope and I had to use regular climbing gloves which gave me no sort of grip on the rope. My first try I got it up but with some diffculty but lost it on the way down. I tried a couple more times and it didn't work out. Then my last time trying it I thought instead of grabbing the rope between the bottom of my thumb and my palm I'd use the tip of my thumb and the side of my index finger. This was of course with my thumb toward the ground and bending the rope sort of, the way you do with an extension ladder. Well by that point my forearms were burned out so I had more sucess keeping the rope from slipping but I ended up up dropping it. I asked the guy who was giving the test for advice for when I get to retest but it turned out he'd never even done it himself so that was no help. So my question is does anyone on here have a trick that can help me. I get to retest in March so I figure that give me plenty of time to find a way to practice as far as finding something to hang a rope over and getting some sort of weight to lift. From trying it I could tell that it's much more about technique that strength so I'm wonering what is the best way to do it and if anyone has any ideas/advice about a way to practice it before I retest. Also I was wondering if in real life it's done this way or would someone just grab the rope and walk it out to life something rather than actualyl pull it by hand, walking it out seems much easier to me.

[lookinatmyfeet]

Try a half or 3/4 wrap around the pole with the handline. Make sure the handline is riding neatly over your safety as you let it out.

[crippledlineman]

bloodfeast, i take it you were acting as if you were a groundman sending the crossarm up to a lineman? just want clarification.

ps-yes there is alot of technique involved and correct rigging with the handline and its pretty gravy. im gonna try to find some pics for ya.

[lineman458]

BF
Try instead of pulling the arm up with your arms ,just hold the rope and walk away from the pole.Let your legs do the work just use your arms to hold the load
This is hard to explain without showing you.
I usually try not to wrap the rope around my hands but on some jobs you may have to do this.but only if you know for sure the load can't pick you up off the groundif you lose control of it.

Just My $0.02 worth

[Kevin]

I don't know if it is allowed but the smart thing to do is use two blocks, one at the top and one on the crossarm to rove.
The mechanical advantage would make it easy.
If I couldn't do that then I would try to get a line set up top and pull the load from the ground.

[bloodfeast1]

The thing with doing it between my middle and ring fingers might actually work. The thing that makes it hard is they are totally not flexible at all. I have to stand inside a cirdcle around the pole so I can only get about 6 feet from it. The pulley is only maybe 8 or 10 inches from the pole so it's hard to keep it from banging the pole. And You have to do it all with your arms, no walking the rope or anything, which is what I'd think would be easiest, tie a knot in the end and walk with it. I also have to use thier gloves which is the hardest part since they have no grip. I think I'll try the between the fingers thing whenever I figure out a way to practice this. I'll check out that book too, it sounds useful. Thank you to everyone who responded and anyone else that has any ideas I'm all ears cause the more good ideas the better.

[bloodfeast1]

bloodfeast, i take it you were acting as if you were a groundman sending the crossarm up to a lineman?  just want clarification.

ps-yes there is alot of technique involved and correct rigging with the handline and its pretty gravy.  im gonna try to find some pics for ya.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

yeah that's exactly the scenario. Any pics you could get I'm sure would be a big help and I'd really appreciate that.

[Kevin]

That's a stupid test.
The further you are from the pole the better the advantage.

Not to mention if the load lets go, you're under it!

Sounds like they have someone teaching someone else what they don't know how to do themselves.

[Norscaner]

You mean the instructor is an engineer Kev?

[Kevin]

Isn't that pathetic?
They are teaching people to become statistics.

[crippledlineman]

id say in that second pic the guy is alittle to far under the pole, good way to get your gourd popped.......i cant find hardly any pics so far that i want to show him......i just remember sending the crossarm up and all the lineman would have to do is put the bolt through it and we'd do all the dirty work. its easy to rig after you done it once..........dont worry bloodfeast one of us will find something eventually

[oldlineman]

Here's a pic. I found of a Bud I was working with last summer, note the proper way to hold the hands-with the invisible gloves, also the cool summer attire.

In the full pic. notice the just so happy to be here smile, now that I look at him closer he kinda looks like Bob on tv, the one that does the male enhancement drug commercial.

[LostArt]

In the full pic. notice the just so happy to be here smile, now that I look at him closer he kinda looks like Bob on tv, the one that does the male enhancement drug commercial. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

LMAO! Do they call him Fly? I noticed that he had a housefly tat. I suwannee OLM, you crack me up at times.

Bloodfest, I asked the boss and his remark was, "You have got to be kiddin' dear. Explain WHAT on the damn internet?"

Oh BF, look for the Lineman's and Cableman's Field Manual at the library. There is a possibility that they might have one there.

This post has been edited by LostArt: 27 December 2004 - 06:32 AM

[eagle1]

That's a stupid test.
The further you are from the pole the better the advantage.

Not to mention if the load lets go, you're under it!

Sounds like they have someone teaching someone else what they don't know how to do themselves. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It doesn't sound like a stupid test. Using a handline to send an arm up is a routine task that every linemen should be able to accopmlish. Moving further away from the pole does not provide any mechanical advantage. What it does do is put less strain on the block and rigging holding the block. If he crossarm weighs 50 pounds then you must provide 50 pounds of force to move it. Adding the second block does add a mechanicla advantage of 2 to 1; you are providing 25 pounds of force to move 50 pounds.

If the load is properly secured to the line then it shouldn't "let go". Proper knots that are tied and used in the correct way will not slip and will hold the load.

Some linemen prefer the knot tied just below the throughbolt hole and some like it at the very bottom of the arm, and anywhere in between. A slipknot that ties the top of the arm assures the lineman on the pole that he will not have to hold the weight of the arm; the groundhand holds the weight while the lineman unties the slipknot. Once the knot is untied the groundhand pulls the line a little and the arm drops across the lineman's belt.

Bloodfeast1, if you want to be a lineman there a some things you are going to have to do. Wearing gloves is one of them. I have been in the business over 20 years (different utilities) and have yet to meet a lineman who didn't. You WILL be wearing them when working hot so get used to wearing gloves now.

This job is physical. You must be in decent shape to do it, not Superman shape, decent shape. Moving a crossarm with a handline is not a big deal.

[Kevin]

I would opt for 3:1 but it sounds like they prefer brawn over brain which doesn't make much sense in this day and age.
Standing inside six feet of a drop zone doesn't sound too bright either, why not back up, is the ground sacred?
Although getting a better angle doesn't increase M.A. it gets you out of the drop zone and creates less friction in the system.
A routine task I would agree with but one that should be fail safe, people make mistakes and that includes linemen.

[bloodfeast1]

Yeha I know what you are saying about gloves, I wore them every day when i was working in cable so I'm used to that. it just seemed to me that a different pair of gloves would have made gripping the rope easier. That was the main problem, it wasn't a strength thing for me, I could lift the thing no problem. It was just a matter of keeping the rope from slipping. So mainly what I was trying to figure out is what's the best way to actually grip the rope to keep it from slipping. I get what you are saying about lifting it is no big deal and I'm sure it's not, I just want to know the best way to do it.

[Kevin]

I can only guess that if an accident occurred they would fry someones butt with this rule or something similar ...


(9) While the conductor or pulling line is being
pulled (in motion) employees shall not be permitted
directly under overhead operations, nor shall any
employee be permitted on the crossarm.

[DoneThat]

Yeha I know what you are saying about gloves, I wore them every day when i was working in cable so I'm used to that. it just seemed to me that a different pair of gloves would have made gripping the rope easier.  That was the main problem, it wasn't a strength thing for me, I could lift the thing no problem.  It was just a matter of keeping the rope from slipping.  So mainly what I was trying to figure out is what's the best way to actually grip the rope to keep it from slipping.  I get what you are saying about lifting it is no big deal and I'm sure it's not, I just want to know the best way to do it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I've got a question, where did you do the testing? Was it at a yard or was it at the training facility?