Question on a Utility Arborist???

[Froggy]

This is a pretty simple question. I'd like to know the difference in a Utility Arborist, A Certified Line Clearance Climber,and Right-of-Way Climber. Are these seperate catagories? Or are they all under one. If someone could give me a detailed discription I'd appreciate it.
I've been in the tree care industry as a climber for two years now. I've recently took a job a climber for a Right-of-Way/Line Clearance company. This company is supose to be along the lines of Asplundh. They do all the Line Clearance/Right-of-Way work for the Power companies around here. The owner is well involved in the Southern Chapter of the ISA. A good sized company to say the least. I'm just trying to figure out how this works as a climber for a Line Clearance/Right-of-Way company? Thanks,BB

 

[Guy Meilleur]

Originally posted by Froggy
I'd like to know the difference in a Utility Arborist, A Certified Line Clearance Climber,and Right-of-Way Climber.

I never heard of the last two. Ask isa-southern.org; th eprez is a utility guy--is that your boss, Dwayne Carter?
Or go to the isa-arbor.com site, the certification page will tell you. If you like the work and like the people you should study for the te$t.

 

[Guy Meilleur]

Here's the link to apply to get certified:

http://www.isa-arbor.com/certification/utility.asp

Go for it!:blob6:

 

[UNBforester]

It sounds like they are all the same job. The only one that "may" be different is Certified Line Clearance climber. Certified by who? Union (IBEW)?, ISA?, or Controlling authority (Power Co.)? Certification is different depending on where you are and who you work for.

Certified Line Clearance CLIMBER also gives you distinction from the bucket operators.

Watch and learn from the experienced climbers on your crew before you try anything to hairy.

 

[Froggy]

Reply

So what you guys are saying is that even though I have two years climbing experiance. I still need to observe the Line Clearance climbers. So that I can pick up their angle on climbing. The main thing I'm seeing is they tend to use a lot of the old school meathods of climbing. There is no problem with that. I think I probably want to use my own gear. Just because that's what I feel the most comfortable in. They gave me gear today, but it was just you basic tree saddle with a seat no leg straps, a lanyard with a prusic to adjust the length, a tristrand rope 120'. and a pair of Buckingham hooks with the cheep pads(very uncomfortable).The hooks use to be tree hooks. Now they're filed down to pole hooks. I feel as though this is going to be a good experiance for me to learn a different aspect of climbing. The more tools I have in my box. The better off I'll be. Who knows I might just be a line clearance climber untile I retire. Never know where life will take you in the Tree Industry. Thanks again, BB

 

[UNBforester]

That's definitely old school. Be prepared to use a pole pruner..... alot.

 

[Curtis James]

I am going on six months in line clearence and there is alot to learn. Definetally get use to pole prunners. There are all kinds of tricks you'll learn with those pruners. I am a modern climber also. We had to supply our own saddle and I use my own rope cause I like the eye splice in it.
I flipped the bill to become a cetified arborist. This just lets others know that you know your job and aren't some fly by night hack. You have to be in the buissness for three documented years before you can get certification, or graduate college in an arboriculture field and have two years work history ect..
To be a utility specialist you must be a certified arborist and have a minimum of two years documented and verifiable electric utility vegetation management experience.
To be a certified tree worker you must have at least eighteen months of climbing experience and show valid proof of training in aerial rescue, CPR, and first aid. With all of these you have to maintain your certification with the ISA through CEU's. Which stands for continuing education units, this way you will keep up with the times as your career goes on and on. These are the only ones I am familiar with. Contact the ISA for more info!

 

[Froggy]

Reply

I want to get some feed back on what the other Line Clearance Crews use as gear? Such as Saddle set up accessories etc.....Just curious. Thanks,BB

 

[topnotchtree]

Saddle, climbing line, hooks, pole pruner, and a whole lotta guts! I have been with Asplundh for over ten years. Yes, they are old school. They will not allow new stuff because they will not take the time to train everyone to use it. We had a guy fall this summer using a split-tail that was not tied properly.Fell 50 feet. Severely hurt but alive. Another big reason they are old school is they are cheap. Trucks don't even come with radios! And just because you are a journeyman line clearance trimmer doesn't mean you know what you are doing.Our union has a wonderful training program that takes 2.5 years to complete. We are fortunate. We have had tree crews come into our area from out of state, to help do storm work, that didn't even have saddles on their trucks! Bucket-babies!

 

[njarbor]

i start for davey on monday . they use old school techniques but i showed my setup to the foreman when i took my drug test and he said that i just have to run it by the safety inspector and that they are looking for faster, more efficient climbing techniques its just that not many people want to climb. they all want to stay bucket bound . they only have a handfull that will climb

 

[UNBforester]

One of things myself and some other members of my crew carry on their saddles are extra carabiners and a couple loop runners (slings from Sherrill). Handy for extra leverage or larger limbs. Invest in a really good handsaw and scabbord. I use the leg mounted model, frees up some extra space. Always remember to try and keep it simple because up and down all day long will get tiring.

My own set up includes:
Komet Butterfly, homemade hip prussik lanyard using 9800lb herzog rope, couple petzel biners, loop runners, leg scabbord with 13"Fanno, split tail with ultratech prussik (VT or Schwabisch-whatever I feel like that day), buckingham twisted shank spurs, and if i'm really lucky a bag containing Class 2 rubber gloves for those really close and personal days

Got lucky today with some trimming and removals. Our linemen isolated and de-energized the line today and dropped a span for us on a 65' hemlock flopper. It was sweet.

Later

 

[Froggy]

Reply

UNBforester: I found out that some of the things I carried climbing for a Tree Compay couldn't be used in line clearance. Such as my micro assender for quick adjustment on my lanyard and my ladder clip. I figured I could use a carabeiner for my saw clip. I've got my tusty Caronia and scabbord from Sherrill. Got a few loop runners. Any other tips? Appreciate what you've given me so far. I work on the New Construction, New Service, and Hot Spots Crew. If you don't mind UBN. Who do you work for?
Thanks, BB:Eye:

 

[njarbor]

does that mean my micropully is out?

 

[Curtis James]

I work for Shade Tree and thus far they are very open to climbing with anything that is osha approved. The majority of guys climb the traditional way because the rope is company issue. I haven't seen anything to hairy. I am trimming on an isolated 34500 kv line now and that is the biggest for me so far. It was well trimmed the last time also so it hasn't been bad. I enjoy climbing and as long as you respect the lines for what they are it's a great job.

 

[UNBforester]

Froggy:
To answer your question I work for the power company as a Forester Tradesperson. Our crew gets to choose what equipment we want to use (within reason).
Why are you not allowed to use your microascender for your lanyard? Was it because you were using a steel core flipline?

Another thing we use extensively up here are foam cored pole prunners with multiple extensions. Extensions come in real handy. Our safety officer for the company is looking into getting our petzl acenders approved for company use. They are in a trial basis right now.

 

[Froggy]

Reply

UNBforester: They said it was a conductor of electricity. Also the less you got on your saddle the quicker they say you go. Safety is a must, but speed is also a must. Productivity and mileage. I talked to the boss in my district and he said my equipment would get better as I earn it. Being the newest guy that's just the way it works. It wouldn't be fair to give me the best when some other climber that has been there longer might be looking for the same thing. He said the way things are going it shouldn't be long:blob4: . Thanks , BB

 

[NickfromWI]

Originally posted by topnotchtree
...We had a guy fall this summer using a split-tail that was not tied properly....

So what does that have to do with modern techniques. You can put me on three strand with a "tot" line hitch on it, and if I don't tie it right, then it can fail.

It's silly that people would use that mentality to halt progress

love
nick

 

[topnotchtree]

The way the story was told.........The guy took a day off and another crew member used his gear. They guy who borrowed his gear untied something and did not tie it back when he was done. The next day he did not inspect his gear and climbed to his tip, tied in, unbucked and when he went to lean into his climbing line fell. I know there were many things done that shouldn't have been done. Like someone using another persons gear, not inspecting your gear, etc. I think our company believes the simpler the safer. After he fell there was a company wide memo that went over the companys "tie in" policy. Snap tied to climbing line with bolen. Figure 8 knot in tail near bolen. And you must tie in with taut line hitch. They don't even want you climbing with a blakes hitch, but I always do.

 

[NickfromWI]

Originally posted by RockyJSquirrel
...a dumb, fat foreman that couldn't climb an escalator.

oh, man, i have to remember that one

That incident sounded like a freak occurence. Silly that they'd make everyone use a bowline and a taut-line.

love
nick

 

[topnotchtree]

I have no experience as to what my "large company" is like in other areas of the country, or the people they employ. But I feel the need to stand up and set the record straight. Where I work there are no dumb foreman as you described. There are few old outta shape foreman that are out of their climbing prime, but by no means dumb. Accidents will happen, it is human nature. And nobody messes with my gear either!