Working opposite potentials

[Brooks]

Two men, two different buckets, working on opposite phases on the same pole; what say you?

It's a raging debate between some...

[paddyc]

totally against our company rules
work one phase at a time only, better to have your buddy watch your back than working on another phase, anyway whats the hurry?

[topgroove]

really bad idea and against our safetly rules also. Get into the practice of isolate and insulate. it dosen't take much more time or effort. work like a surgean. Notise when a doctor opperates the patent is completely covered except the part he's actually working on.

[US & CA Tramp]

Two men, two different buckets, working on opposite phases on the same pole; what say you?

It's a raging debate between some...

Not only is this against the OSHA regulations, but the fault cureent this could generate in an accident would be hugh.

[Pootnaigle]

uMMMMM Yep bad idea .Aint kosher enywhere I ever been. Sides we get paid by the hour ..........either double up one one phase or let the other guy sit it out n watch yer back.

[loose neutral]

NOT acceptable !!!!!! Safety violation and VERY BAD work practice. Anyone who tells you different needs to have their head examined.:mad:

[Brooks]

I agree entirely. I learned this trade many moons ago in a land far far away... This was always either a hard fast rule or simply an industry standard practice that was adhered to.

The outfit I'm with doesn't have a rule on this.

I have read and re-read the OSHA regs related to our industry and have been unable to find anything. If someone can point me to it, I would be grateful.

[Fiberglass Cowboy]

One phase at a time. This SHOULD be in black and white in a linemans' company's safety manual, as it is for most companies. I imagine many a lineman at many different shops(show-ups), might argue one way or another over different issues such as this. There's probably a good chance that most of them never have "cracked open" their company's safety manual and read through it. If you haven't already, you might look it up in your safety book, or ask your safety department about it. We usually don't get to make up the rules as we go, either. That being said, it isn't a common practice. You might remind some of the guys you work with about that. Also you can probably find literature about the topic somewhere, (since you can't find it in your safety book) from a different (or neighboring) electric company's safety book about 2 linemen working opposite phases on the same pole being a violation. Have not heard of this being an acceptable practice anywhere else. Good luck to you. :cool:

Not a normal practice unless a guy works at a little, rinky-dink, Mickey Mouse outfit, where there isn't a safety department and the 2-COUNTY BOOMERS he works with actually don't know any better ..... :rolleyes:

[MI-Lineman]

As much as I like workin safe I gotta admit we here will work more than one out of 2 different buckets? WE WONT MOVE MORE THAN ONE PHASE AT A TIME!:eek: At times though we do go hands on more than one at a time! Never was an issue here? Just tappin somethin or rubberin up! Stuff like that!

Specially in Detroit....sh!t was really tight and at times we did do it!!

BUT NEVER, NEVER WOULD I CRITICIZE ANYONE WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO DO THIS PRACTICE AS I DON'T LIKE MAKIN OTHERS DO SOMETHIN THEY DON'T LIKE!!

THIS IS ACCEPTED PRETTY MUCH UP HERE THOUGH!!:o

[west coast hand]

Hell swampy would move all three at the sametime GET SOME GO PIKE...

[MI-Lineman]

Hell swampy would move all three at the sametime GET SOME GO PIKE...

LOL!:D Yea movin more than one at a time is stupid!:o

[Special ED]

Give me a christmas tree and I'll move all three phases at once.. If you aint seen em they are pretty slick!

[tramp67]

Give me a christmas tree and I'll move all three phases at once.. If you aint seen em they are pretty slick!

An exception to the rule, of course. If you are working one phase, and someone else is working another phase on the same pole, or same span, a couple bad things come into play. You suddenly have two trucks that have the possibility of becoming energized at different potentials, in the same vicinity, making things more dangerous for anyone on the ground. A bigger danger, though, is that, when you are working on one phase, you are in control of what's happening on that pole, and your main focus is on the conductor you are working on, and the changes you are making to the pole, the conductor, the circuit. Add someone else on another phase, suddenly you need to focus more attention on what they are doing, changes in forces on the pole from their work, the possibility of them losing control of their conductor and having it enter your work area, etc. Too many things going on around you that you need to pay attention to, and that doesn't leave you the focus you need to have on your own work. When you are working with someone else on the same conductor, you are communicating with each other and working together on the same task, not being distracted.

[lewy]

It is not something we do very often, but there are times we have done it. When the trucks are on both sides of the pole as compared to beside each other. Another time is when we have had the luxury of a second truck when sticking the 44kv (insulator change) the one truck will hold the near phase out of the way & the other truck will handle the other 2 phases, 1 at a time of course. We never work 2 phase at the same time out of 1 bucket or when on the pole.

[BookII]

Hell swampy would move all three at the sametime GET SOME GO PIKE...

And so would Lights Out Lakey!!! GET SOME GO POUK!!!!