Equal Potential Grounding Practices
I just read an article in "Incident Prevention" magazine about equal potential grounding. It stated that AEP has changed the method for creating an equal potential zone (EPZ). Apparently they did some testing and found that the pole band or cluster bar does not energize the heartwood of the pole where a workers gaffs penetrate, and thus does not actually protect the worker adequately. They recommeded to place a pole bond that extends down a min. of 10 ft from the neutral (full length pole bond prefered from top of pole to a driven ground rod) and connect it to the system neutral, staples should be a max of 18 inches apart and firmly driven into the pole. I spoke with a AEP rep and they verified the testing methods they used and solutions they came up with to correct the problem. They no longer require the use of the pole band or cluster but do require what is stated above. Other than the cluster mount the grounds should still be installed nueutral first then to each phase.
What are your company standards on this subject? I also heard GA Power has changed to this standard as well along with others. Any information we can share with each other will go a long way.
I'm screaming, yet no one hears
You got it Clive.
Traveling around really shows the glaring discrepancies between jurisdictions where safety is concerned. For the first decade I thought it was because every area had it’s own special circumstances but slowly it began to dawn on me that those special circumstances have more to do with employers, or groups of employers, and our own worker representatives (be them unions or associations) collectively trying to distance themselves from any liability what-so-ever.
If the powers to be were concerned about trying to truly make the job safer we would be seeing fewer serious accidents, many fatal. We are not seeing any statistical proof that that is so, but what we do see is some safety geek department of yet another utility putting a new spin on a flogged to death idea.
We have had numerous threads in this forum discussing the fine points of EPG methods, FR clothing, safety glasses and a myriad of other safety topics amongst ourselves and what has been accomplished? For me it is only proved the point I made in the first paragraph, “…employers, or groups of employers, and our own worker representatives (be them unions or associations) collectively trying to distance themselves from any liability what-so-ever.”
If anyone has noticed I have been spending most of my efforts on this site in the “Politics and BS” portion because I’m doing more good there, especially in BS.
Until we get our collective heads together as Linemen and quit arguing about whether 5 staples or 6 per 10 foot length is going to make a difference in the safety of our people this trade is doomed to continually suffer the jobs site meat grinder we call a trade.
It makes me hold my head and scream the sound that is never heard.