Power lines
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MasterBlaster
TreeHouse Elder
Well said, AGAIN!
T
topnotchtree
Guest
I have witnessed an arching demonstration put on by the utility co and the union where the guy drew current through a kite string. He also stuck his hand in a rubber glove and rubbed it all over a conductor, then removed his hand and shoved a raw hot dog in a finger of the glove. Then he poked a hole in the glove finger with a sewing needle. Then touched the conductor with the glove. The hot dog was burnt to a crisp. The voltage was 4800. Line clearance guys do some crazy things, but most of us know what we can get away with safely. First of all we know how to ID the lines and get a pretty good idea of the voltage we are working with. I read somewhere in this thread where someone suggested using a handsaw to remove a hanger from a wire. Although the wood handle on the saw may not conduct, the screws on the handle that hold the blade in will get ya.
Maybe I wasn't clear. The only piece of equipment we have that we are allowed to pull a hanger with is our hydraulic pole saw which is dialectrically tested every year not a hand saw. We don't carry one around with us when climbing but we can't use fiberglass poles because ours are batch tested.
Mike
Mike
In high school, the next town over had a bad storm, a power line got knocked down, down the drive from this mobile home. After the storm, this family came out to of their house 1 by 1 onto the wooden front porch.
There was so much whatever power, invisible from down at the pole, that it made this arched dome or something around it's area. Each person as they stepped out, dropped dead without warning, maybe the 2nd or 3 rd went to see what happened to the 1st etc. till it wiped out the family of 8; emptied the full house. The kids didn't get a free walk either. Fairly indiscriminate.
It was said to be some strange phenomenon, that gave them no sign, they weren't real close etc. The next year, a guy down at the local factory got between 2 linking RR cars; caught in those big C Latches somewhere in the gut region. They could do nothing for him or his pain, real small town; his wife was brought down to say good bye before the cars were unhooked, allowing the hemmoraging. i said, that doesn't have to happen to me, or fella standing next to; i knew to look both ways before tracing close to/thru a flow of power.
Electricity is awesome force, a seething monster -just trying to get you; just waiting for ya to get to close to it's reach; counting/cussing the minutes it waits without seeming to care. ilet the snake handlers, with the snake gloves take care of it. We should respect it and other awesome forces. With trees, we should have a front row seat, of what awesome forces can do in one small way, we see it all the time in trees, saws, lines, vehichles etc. And thereby know how easily one can be overconfident and just not really see what they are dancing with; till it shows 'em; or every tenth one like them; becasue there was one lil trick/observation that they didn't know, so put them in the red. The differance between death and success can be degrees and feet.
i've also been in the tree, and seen swaying wires arcing sparks on neighboring green, watery branch tips. i know for sure one time i reported it, and nothing was done; 2 weeks later they might have been taller or wetter; but they all burnt down!
Orrrrr something like that!
:alien:
There was so much whatever power, invisible from down at the pole, that it made this arched dome or something around it's area. Each person as they stepped out, dropped dead without warning, maybe the 2nd or 3 rd went to see what happened to the 1st etc. till it wiped out the family of 8; emptied the full house. The kids didn't get a free walk either. Fairly indiscriminate.
It was said to be some strange phenomenon, that gave them no sign, they weren't real close etc. The next year, a guy down at the local factory got between 2 linking RR cars; caught in those big C Latches somewhere in the gut region. They could do nothing for him or his pain, real small town; his wife was brought down to say good bye before the cars were unhooked, allowing the hemmoraging. i said, that doesn't have to happen to me, or fella standing next to; i knew to look both ways before tracing close to/thru a flow of power.
Electricity is awesome force, a seething monster -just trying to get you; just waiting for ya to get to close to it's reach; counting/cussing the minutes it waits without seeming to care. ilet the snake handlers, with the snake gloves take care of it. We should respect it and other awesome forces. With trees, we should have a front row seat, of what awesome forces can do in one small way, we see it all the time in trees, saws, lines, vehichles etc. And thereby know how easily one can be overconfident and just not really see what they are dancing with; till it shows 'em; or every tenth one like them; becasue there was one lil trick/observation that they didn't know, so put them in the red. The differance between death and success can be degrees and feet.
i've also been in the tree, and seen swaying wires arcing sparks on neighboring green, watery branch tips. i know for sure one time i reported it, and nothing was done; 2 weeks later they might have been taller or wetter; but they all burnt down!
Orrrrr something like that!
:alien:
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John Paul Sanborn
Above average climber
I was going through the picture archive and came across this pic of electrical contact.
He lived at least,
He lived at least,
Eagle1
ArboristSite Operative
Oh my God sweet Jesus!!
I think I have turned a new leaf near power lines.
Now THAT is a usefull post/pic.
I think I have turned a new leaf near power lines.
Now THAT is a usefull post/pic.
MasterBlaster
TreeHouse Elder
Heck Eagle, ya outta see the DEAD ones!
You can't be scared of the lines. But they demand respect, and proper training.
You can't be scared of the lines. But they demand respect, and proper training.
Eagle1
ArboristSite Operative
MB I can only imagine the dead ones. Only diff is that the poor bas**** that is dead dosn't see his desicrated body.
Put it this way. I have a new founded respect for lines since this post and pics.
That arm looks like an over cooked chicken wing, and I am having wings and beer right now!!
Put it this way. I have a new founded respect for lines since this post and pics.
That arm looks like an over cooked chicken wing, and I am having wings and beer right now!!
MidwestTree
ArboristSite Lurker
Many of you understand electricity and I am not passing judgement but advice. If you have any questions about powerlines it is useful to attend a class. The power companies give these all the time. Alot to local (volunteer) fire depts. They usually are good programs and you might learn just one thing that could save your life. Even guys that work around them all the time should step back and rethink what they are doing. I know that it is human nature to become "comfortable" dealing with dangerous things and that comfort can lead to the small mistake that gets you.
Always lean toward the side of safety.
Always lean toward the side of safety.
John Paul Sanborn
Above average climber
Allways tie in so you will swing away...
To reenfocre a point from John Ball's lecture on injuries and fatalities. Many that had electrical contact had a rescue of the initial victim, and recovery of the crew member who atempted rescue..
To reenfocre a point from John Ball's lecture on injuries and fatalities. Many that had electrical contact had a rescue of the initial victim, and recovery of the crew member who atempted rescue..
T
topnotchtree
Guest
We were shown pictures in our apprentice classes. The thing I was really amazed at is the fact that electric burns happen from the inside out. A pic right after an electrical contact showed a redness to the skin at first. A day later the skin turned brown, then black as the skin cells were dying off. It got worse as the days progressed. We are shown stuff like this every couple of years or so just to keep our minds sharp on what we are doing. I think it does help.
Dobber
ArboristSite Operative
This a pic of an untrained worker after an accident. Look his name up if you like, there is lots to see if you feel like reading. his name was Lewis Wheelan, just started a summer job with a friend of his fathers who owns the contracted company. Took a hit from a fallen conductor, lost his right arm and part of both legs, due to all the scar tissue his body couldnt keep it self cool without air conditioning. When the 2003 black out happened he lost the air conditioning, causing him to slowly overheat untill he passed out and never woke up.
MasterBlaster
TreeHouse Elder
Thats a crying shame, man.
i think that story deserves a place in "Injuries & Fatalities"; so that it will be recorded in an easy to find place when messages and numbers about such things are assembled/reviewed. Surely a high impact picture and story; that might make a life saving differance/impression on 1 or more people.
Crofter
Addicted to ArboristSite
I posted this a while back regarding the same incident.
Liability for ensuring Sub Contractors Work Safely
A local utility company was fined $250,000. for failing to ensure that a subcontractor was providing adequate training and following safe work practices. An 18 year old on his second day on the summer job was electocuted when a tree was felled across power lines bringing them down on him. He lost both legs, one arm plus fingers from the remaining hand. He died a year later. The person running the saw for the Neat Site brushing company is on trial for unsafe cutting practices. Tree lean or wind bound the saw and he called two co-workers to push the tree. (no ropes and cutting within 6 feet of other persons) As they pushed he cut some more and I suppose cut the hinge completely off and the tree came over backward taking the lines down on top of the brush dragger. The company was originally hired just to brush but were later given the nod to take down hazard trees.
So I guess just making sure that your sub. has insurance doesn't get you off the hook if $hit hits the fan.
Frank
Liability for ensuring Sub Contractors Work Safely
A local utility company was fined $250,000. for failing to ensure that a subcontractor was providing adequate training and following safe work practices. An 18 year old on his second day on the summer job was electocuted when a tree was felled across power lines bringing them down on him. He lost both legs, one arm plus fingers from the remaining hand. He died a year later. The person running the saw for the Neat Site brushing company is on trial for unsafe cutting practices. Tree lean or wind bound the saw and he called two co-workers to push the tree. (no ropes and cutting within 6 feet of other persons) As they pushed he cut some more and I suppose cut the hinge completely off and the tree came over backward taking the lines down on top of the brush dragger. The company was originally hired just to brush but were later given the nod to take down hazard trees.
So I guess just making sure that your sub. has insurance doesn't get you off the hook if $hit hits the fan.
Frank
John Paul Sanborn
Above average climber
i've been thinking of moving it for a while now. Though it started out as a question of process.
i think i have missed recomending the ACRT SAG (Student Activity Guide) for the US labor corps for urban forestry. There is a section or so to Elec. hazard; in the general manual; for background only, not to replace a complete course certainly.
i present this to instill fear/respect; not a fallse confidance that it is all ya gotta know. Perhaps with the pictures of victims and a scan of a participle of the amount of things you need to know for Line Clearance; and how much thought has gone into making it safe as it is; how to read some of the 'signs'; more informed decisions can be made.
i present this to instill fear/respect; not a fallse confidance that it is all ya gotta know. Perhaps with the pictures of victims and a scan of a participle of the amount of things you need to know for Line Clearance; and how much thought has gone into making it safe as it is; how to read some of the 'signs'; more informed decisions can be made.
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These are from the same US Dept. of Labor Corp's Urban Foresty Manual, by ACRT.
It shows ANSI/OSHA clearances in feet/meters for trained and untrained personel.
i've seen TV cable people after a storm, facing a bare arm hairs towards a downed cable, saying that is how they were taught to 'read' if the line had become electrified! Interesting phenomenon proposed; i don't think it is foolpruf or wise on wet ground after a storm; if it all.....
Sapwood and the human body are fair conductors to these voltages/amps. Even on a residentail drop at 220, i consider more risk before the fuse box, than after!
It shows ANSI/OSHA clearances in feet/meters for trained and untrained personel.
i've seen TV cable people after a storm, facing a bare arm hairs towards a downed cable, saying that is how they were taught to 'read' if the line had become electrified!
Interesting phenomenon proposed; i don't think it is foolpruf or wise on wet ground after a storm; if it all.....Sapwood and the human body are fair conductors to these voltages/amps. Even on a residentail drop at 220, i consider more risk before the fuse box, than after!
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