Line CLearance Certification

[Bigus Termitius]

Don't mind me, I'm waiting for claims to be substantiated.....that'll take alot more than a week in this case. You're right pete, it is pointless, because it is never going to be produced.

I think OP got his answers and got busy. Good idea.

 

[lxt]

Just more grade school playground fodder and no facts.....just as predicted. Thank you.

read the last paragraph!! thats all facts there!

substantiated claims???? ohhh... the Ehap is worthless & so on? LOL, well when anyone with that cert goes to get hired.....see where they start you off at?? Ill bet unless you have a few years with Line clearance (proven) along with that cert.....you`re still gonna be an apprentice!!! & someone with the LCTT cert is gonna train you! just tell the foreman or journeyman "hey Im Ehap certified"...........can you feel the respect cmon your way? LMFAO


LXT.........

 

[Rftreeman]

read the last paragraph!! thats all facts there!

substantiated claims???? ohhh... the Ehap is worthless & so on? LOL, well when anyone with that cert goes to get hired.....see where they start you off at?? Ill bet unless you have a few years with Line clearance (proven) along with that cert.....you`re still gonna be an apprentice!!! & someone with the LCTT cert is gonna train you! just tell the foreman or journeyman "hey Im Ehap certified"...........can you feel the respect cmon your way? LMFAO


LXT.........

"Ehap....yeah whatever, go get me the limb stretcher"

that's what I'd told him....

 

[sgreanbeans]

but you might get a gaff in the door.

I love tree guy sayings, again AWESOME!

Here in I O WAY, within 10ft, breaking the law, think it is the same in Ill. Asplundh has a killer contact crew here, do all the make safes for me, they show up, my guys ground for them while I cook lunch for them on the grill, one time, they did the whole tree! didn't want to go back to whatever they where doing!
I WAS cooking ribs that day....................coincidence? I think not!
Once some one IS qualified, if they leave their company, such as the Big O, do the keep it, or is it only good for that company? I realize they don't do a Jedi mind trick and erase the knowledge! but was wondering if it was still considered valid if they went to work for a private.

 

[kharman]

Do you know of any non union utility line clearance companies?

TCIA | EHAP

This is all the qualifications that I'm aware of that you need. Seems to work for us anyway.

Unions are a double edge sword, and for what they are worth, I'm sure glad that there is an alternative.

There are plenty of non union utility tree service companies out there that work for non union cooperative electric companies that would put you to work yesterday, not dragging brush all the time either. You'd get your experience for sure.

PM me if you want to climb around power. You might have to travel for awhile, but there is no shortage of year round work for a 20 year climber.

Hello Bigus Termitius,
Could you provide some names of the non union utility line clearance companies? I know of the larger ones, Davey/ACRT/Asplundh/Townsend, but am having trouble finding any beyond the big names?

Thank you!

 

[1919trimmer]

The employer certifes that the employee is qualified to work around electric wires based on experience, training and knowledge. This includes EHAP training, First-aid / CPR, aerial rescue and more. EHAP includes hazard recognition, minimum approach distance, specialized pruning/rigging techniques, tools, etc. ISA Utility certification only says you have the knowledge to pass the test, but you have to have line clearance experience to take it.

All trimmers should take an EHAP course, but, like anything some are good and some not worth doing. Electrical Hazard Awareness Program should, at least, show you the hazards associated with energized power lines and how to recognize them, as well as stay away from them.

Biggest problem we have here in Pgh with non- qualified trimmers (when they have an accident) is their breaking the 10 foot rule- and yes, it is a rule. You may not get closer that 10 foot to any energized lines without certification. If you do not know that already you need to get some training- too many people die every year from contact. Last year at the TCIA expo Dr Ball reported that the most common cause of electrocution in a tree was BACKING INTO THE PHASE!

Most of the time someone is 15 feet away from a wire they do not know the voltage of- and they lose control of a 20 foot limb. Direct or indirect the result is the same.

There is absolutely no substitute for good training and line clearance is very different from residential trimming. Not dissing anyone, I started out with Davey Tree in residential years ago, but they are very different.
I’ll repeat, all trimmers should take an EHAP course. Contact me and I can give you some more info or join the TCIA- they have some good training- but they cannot certify for LCTT (line clearance tree trimming).

 

[jefflovstrom]

to all LCTT`s
LXT................

View attachment 314120

Jeff

 

[sgreanbeans]

All trimmers should take an EHAP course, but, like anything some are good and some not worth doing. Electrical Hazard Awareness Program should, at least, show you the hazards associated with energized power lines and how to recognize them, as well as stay away from them.

Biggest problem we have here in Pgh with non- qualified trimmers (when they have an accident) is their breaking the 10 foot rule- and yes, it is a rule. You may not get closer that 10 foot to any energized lines without certification. If you do not know that already you need to get some training- too many people die every year from contact. Last year at the TCIA expo Dr Ball reported that the most common cause of electrocution in a tree was BACKING INTO THE PHASE!

Most of the time someone is 15 feet away from a wire they do not know the voltage of- and they lose control of a 20 foot limb. Direct or indirect the result is the same.

There is absolutely no substitute for good training and line clearance is very different from residential trimming. Not dissing anyone, I started out with Davey Tree in residential years ago, but they are very different.
I’ll repeat, all trimmers should take an EHAP course. Contact me and I can give you some more info or join the TCIA- they have some good training- but they cannot certify for LCTT (line clearance tree trimming).

I agree, that is one thing big green is good about, is making sure they had the training, on the surgery side, the expert side (residential), not so much. We had a couple that where, but they came from surgery. I would like to know how one goes about getting it without working for a big show. I was told that you had to get it from the utility that is in your area. Never really checked into it, as I just stay the hell away, or call them and have them take care of it. But I would like the training.

 

[sgreanbeans]

I should probaly go back and....... :shame: .....read this whole thread

 

[ebrooks83]

im really glad I came on and found this thread. I am interviewing with eci consulting for a bid with northeast utilities in ct. as a utility arborist, great pay and benefits. time for me to move on as an arborist and do something new. even though im only 30 my body is shot and have a bunch of surgeries already behind me. god knows sandy and the blizzard beat the #### out of me. herniated two disks during sandy cleanup and cut off my index finger during the blizzard. time to move on and grow. on another note I used to be on this site regularly as acoma78 but I really got tired of the bickering hope that changes its such a turn off reading that crap.

 

[Blakesmaster]

im really glad I came on and found this thread. I am interviewing with eci consulting for a bid with northeast utilities in ct. as a utility arborist, great pay and benefits. time for me to move on as an arborist and do something new. even though im only 30 my body is shot and have a bunch of surgeries already behind me. god knows sandy and the blizzard beat the #### out of me. herniated two disks during sandy cleanup and cut off my index finger during the blizzard. time to move on and grow. on another note I used to be on this site regularly as acoma78 but I really got tired of the bickering hope that changes its such a turn off reading that crap.

Oh, #### off.



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[Toddppm]

Oh, #### off.



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:hmm3grin2orange:

 

[MarquisTree]

This entire discussion has gotten off topic.

The EHAP program was put together to HELP companies train their employess how to recognize and avoid electrical hazards. No company is required to use tcia ehap, they are free to develop there own program. It was not designed nor should it be used as a "line clearance certification" .
It is a tool to be used in conjunction with an ongoing safety training program. The nice thing about the ehap program is it simplifies documentation and contains all the right info to satisfy oshas minimum training requirements. Anyone who has built their own safety program can appreciate this.
Every tree worker should be trained in electrical hazard recognition and avoidance, its certainly not a hazard that only applies to line clearance operations.
Having an EHAP card (or any other training) is not blanket permission to encroach power lines, regulations vary from state to state and my be different depending on which utility company owns the circuit.

 

[Hollywood7580]

Has anybody out there received the Utility Specialist cert. from the ISA? It says on the ISA site the it does not qualify you to work around energized lines.

Where can I get the training for working around energized lines? OSHA? Somewhere else I would like to be able to focus my search.

You can obtain a LCQS through ACRT 40 hour class.

 

[Richard Magargal]

There is no way other than working under a qualified/certified line clearance trimmer (that I know of) thats why I think the utility cert through ISA is fools gold!

you will have to hire on through a bargaining unit (union) & enter the apprenticeship.....working your way up & then you will have to make it through the 90 day probation period before you will be considered for the cert.

The unions have this wrapped up pretty good, due to the fact the JATC(joint apprenticeship training committee) sits on the board for most department of labor & industry within the states! the LCTT Cert through the unions is a state/federal type of certification....depending on your state!

tree trimmers use to be considered migrant farm workers by the Dept of L & I, Unions changed that......for the good i`d like to think...BUT, now obtaining that cert.? The road goes through your local union hall!!



Good Luck,


LXT....................

 

[beastmaster]

I just took my Ehap course throu tcia, waiting to document my on the job training, have my CPR, rescue training, I'm almost ready toget up close and personal to those 12kv and up.
I'm thinking about taking the isa utility cert. Just to beef up my buisness card.

 

[treebilly]

It was explained to me that there are new guidelines. The EHAP course does not make it so you can clear power lines. It allows you to occasionally work around them. Also has a different MAD than line clearance trimmers. It’s a good course and I’m glad I’ve taken it more than once. I’ve kept my books with me and use them to help new guys get a feel for it. Helps them see what we are dealing with plus gives them a jump start for when they are sent to the course. The company I’m working for has become very safety aware in the last few years. No major incidents or injuries, but I’ve help them to see that one can happen at any time. All training is now documented and a lot of it is documented with the TCIA. I’m currently awaiting my CTSP manual so I can test for that this fall. With this qualification I will be able to continue working with the CTSP’s that have been doing our classes plus be able to offer more on an easier to schedule basis. Might as well give a shout to Scott Brenner at Endor’ Arborist & Rope Supply for helping me out