I need your experience

[my2cents]

Hey guys!
First off, I'm not a lineman and I don’t have 300 years in the trade; but i do have a problem that concerns linemen so I hope you'll humor me and help out? I'm a safety manager working for a transmission company and we've found ourselves between a rock and a hard place. When trying to secure (soft side-dead end-snub off-anchor) hardline (5/8 wire rope) we have always used preform grips. Preforms hold great, they are the quickest and easiest and all opinions I’ve heard say that they're the best thing for the job  (that seems to be the consensus). Here’s the problem…. It’s illegal to use them on hard line! The manufacturer says not to: 1) use them on dissimilar material; and/or 2) use them as a “false dead end”. What else can we use? Chicago grips don’t hold, they slip, they let go, if you bump them they can fall off. Haven grips (bull dog grips) destroy the cable. Pocketbook grips are a pain in the butt, some say they don’t hold well—others say they damage the wire…?
What can you tell me? Does anyone have a practical solution? I can’t believe that the whole country/world is A-breaking the law and operating in violation of manufacturers recommendations, or B- not securing their hard line ! how do we meet both criteria… SAFE and LEGAL?

[reppy007]

Hey guys!
First off, I'm not a lineman and I don’t have 300 years in the trade; but i do have a problem that concerns linemen so I hope you'll humor me and help out? I'm a safety manager working for a transmission company and we've found ourselves between a rock and a hard place. When trying to secure (soft side-dead end-snub off-anchor) hardline (5/8 wire rope) we have always used preform grips. Preforms hold great, they are the quickest and easiest and all opinions I’ve heard say that they're the best thing for the job  (that seems to be the consensus). Here’s the problem…. It’s illegal to use them on hard line! The manufacturer says not to: 1) use them on dissimilar material; and/or 2) use them as a “false dead end”. What else can we use? Chicago grips don’t hold, they slip, they let go, if you bump them they can fall off. Haven grips (bull dog grips) destroy the cable. Pocketbook grips are a pain in the butt, some say they don’t hold well—others say they damage the wire…?
What can you tell me? Does anyone have a practical solution? I can’t believe that the whole country/world is A-breaking the law and operating in violation of manufacturers recommendations, or B- not securing their hard line ! how do we meet both criteria… SAFE and LEGAL?
Id go to plan b.......might take a little longer,that is if you have a good plan b...................maybe even look for examples on youtube.............guess your still between the rock and a hardplace.

[Pootnaigle]

Ummmmmmm I know it aint real practical but wouldnt a chain sling passed thru the eye and then around the pole or thru the anchor work. I understand that at some point its gonna hafta come off but it shudnt ever have to be at full tension and a grip should hold under lesser tension.

[RadonHuffer]

This is exactly how those to linemen where killed in Oklahoma back in December.:nightmare:

[CPOPE]

Hey guys!
First off, I'm not a lineman and I don’t have 300 years in the trade; but i do have a problem that concerns linemen so I hope you'll humor me and help out? I'm a safety manager working for a transmission company and we've found ourselves between a rock and a hard place. When trying to secure (soft side-dead end-snub off-anchor) hardline (5/8 wire rope) we have always used preform grips. Preforms hold great, they are the quickest and easiest and all opinions I’ve heard say that they're the best thing for the job  (that seems to be the consensus). Here’s the problem…. It’s illegal to use them on hard line! The manufacturer says not to: 1) use them on dissimilar material; and/or 2) use them as a “false dead end”. What else can we use? Chicago grips don’t hold, they slip, they let go, if you bump them they can fall off. Haven grips (bull dog grips) destroy the cable. Pocketbook grips are a pain in the butt, some say they don’t hold well—others say they damage the wire…?
What can you tell me? Does anyone have a practical solution? I can’t believe that the whole country/world is A-breaking the law and operating in violation of manufacturers recommendations, or B- not securing their hard line ! how do we meet both criteria… SAFE and LEGAL?

Listen to yourself pal, performs are great. Only because the manufacture says so and what happened in Oaklahoma. Chicago's work Bulldogs, Pocketbook can or could be used.

Safe and leagal means nobody gets hurt if the grip lets go under tension no matter what grip you use. All options on the table Wait and hope for the best safe and legal like. Ain't nothing safe about this trade you got yourself mixed up in pal. Leagal is a subjective term depending on your point of view.www.certex.com/products/4.pdf

[rob8210]

Preforms are an excellent dead ending device, handy for improvising a tow cable too!! The only thing I have found with preforms is to make them off right down to the last wrap and I have even gently let them off when doing transfers you really can control the slippage well.

[CPOPE]

Preforms are an excellent dead ending device, handy for improvising a tow cable too!! The only thing I have found with preforms is to make them off right down to the last wrap and I have even gently let them off when doing transfers you really can control the slippage well.

The manufactures of wire rope from what I understand do not permit use of a preform.
If you need to splice an eye into "Hard Line" AKA wire rope here is how.

http://www.worksafebc.com/publications/health_and_safety/by_topic/assets/pdf/splicing.pdf

We all agree I think that a preform is simpler and easier. Not rated for the use so if a preform lets go on a hard line it's nobody's fault but your own.

[rob8210]

So true, you have to use them for what they are designed for or troubles will arise and bite you in the arse.