Pole Climbing:
- Thread starter rattus
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hbiss
EC, Westchester, New York NEC: 2014
- Location
- Hawthorne, New York NEC: 2014
- Occupation
- EC
Re: Pole Climbing:
Yup. Never liked it, never felt it was safe and for that reason did it as little as possible.
Most common accident was "burning the pole" meaning that you cut out and slid (really fell) down the pole held against it by your climbing belt. Really easy to do especially if the pole is not in great shape. Guys this happened to were pulling really nasty creasote treated splinters out of their bellies for the next few days, not to mention the broken bones!
There are linemen to who this is second nature though, been doing it for their whole career and it doesn't bother them a bit. Lots of luck to em! Give me a bucket truck or at least a ladder. Oh, and put the pole where you can get to it with either!
I don't know what OSHA or the insurance companies have to say about this, I suspect nothing good because it looks like the practice has been discontinued by most.
-Hal
Yup. Never liked it, never felt it was safe and for that reason did it as little as possible.
Most common accident was "burning the pole" meaning that you cut out and slid (really fell) down the pole held against it by your climbing belt. Really easy to do especially if the pole is not in great shape. Guys this happened to were pulling really nasty creasote treated splinters out of their bellies for the next few days, not to mention the broken bones!
There are linemen to who this is second nature though, been doing it for their whole career and it doesn't bother them a bit. Lots of luck to em! Give me a bucket truck or at least a ladder. Oh, and put the pole where you can get to it with either!
I don't know what OSHA or the insurance companies have to say about this, I suspect nothing good because it looks like the practice has been discontinued by most.
-Hal
charlie
Senior Member
- Location
- Indianapolis
Re: Pole Climbing:
I have but didn't do well (I have only climbed a few for electrical work, never as a lineman). Our linemen get really good at it and they don't have any difficulty doing it, so of like riding a bicycle. We still have a lot of poles in easements that have to be climbed so they have no choice.
I have but didn't do well (I have only climbed a few for electrical work, never as a lineman). Our linemen get really good at it and they don't have any difficulty doing it, so of like riding a bicycle. We still have a lot of poles in easements that have to be climbed so they have no choice.
sandsnow
Senior Member
- Location
- Southern California
Re: Pole Climbing:
I used to work at a fairgrounds with some overhead distribution. All under 600volts. I couldn't wait to learn how to climb and I loved it, but then I like rock climbing.
A lot was changing lamps but we replaced poles and strung new spans also.
The most scared and having the time of my life was 35 feet up and the pole at the top not much bigger than my thigh. That thing would get to swaying as I worked. I had really concentrate on the task at hand. If I looked past the pole I could see how much I was really swaying.
I used to work at a fairgrounds with some overhead distribution. All under 600volts. I couldn't wait to learn how to climb and I loved it, but then I like rock climbing.
A lot was changing lamps but we replaced poles and strung new spans also.
The most scared and having the time of my life was 35 feet up and the pole at the top not much bigger than my thigh. That thing would get to swaying as I worked. I had really concentrate on the task at hand. If I looked past the pole I could see how much I was really swaying.
Re: Pole Climbing:
If you are thinking of buying spurs and a belt, also think about the full or 3/4 shank boots.
I was a tree climber and i was a softie. Pole climbers get used to the simple leather pads on their shins. I preferred the better formed shin pads as the head of the spurs didn't dig in so easily.
I also didn't like working in one spot on my spurs for hours at a time. I guess if you do it all the time you get used to standing in one spot. All the strain concentrates in the low back, butt, and foot arches.
I liked using a saddle, even for electrical work, when i was going to work on a pole or use a belt to lean out. It carried the weight and my legs were just used for position or stability.
If you want stability while climbing a pole (using a rope or lanyard) take a turn around the pole. The friction won't let the rope slip side to side.
If you want to practice, you need only go up a foot, and stand there a while to get the feel. After you feel comfortable, are used to standing on spurs, get used to adjusting the length of the flip line; get used to pulling youself in and letting yourself fall back. a figure eight knot works well with most ropes for stability and adjustment.
After you can stand for a while without discomfort, fear or unsureness. take a step up with one foot, lean forward and lift the flip line up (both gloved hands) and finish the step. Then reverse, 30 or 40 cycles until the time interval as you step up seems slow. You have got to get to a place where the sense of time as you lift the flip line is not hurried, is without fear and is natural. This is the first place where almost everyone loses it. You can't climb safely if you can't get past that.
have at it
best of luck from an ex-climber
paul
If you are thinking of buying spurs and a belt, also think about the full or 3/4 shank boots.
I was a tree climber and i was a softie. Pole climbers get used to the simple leather pads on their shins. I preferred the better formed shin pads as the head of the spurs didn't dig in so easily.
I also didn't like working in one spot on my spurs for hours at a time. I guess if you do it all the time you get used to standing in one spot. All the strain concentrates in the low back, butt, and foot arches.
I liked using a saddle, even for electrical work, when i was going to work on a pole or use a belt to lean out. It carried the weight and my legs were just used for position or stability.
If you want stability while climbing a pole (using a rope or lanyard) take a turn around the pole. The friction won't let the rope slip side to side.
If you want to practice, you need only go up a foot, and stand there a while to get the feel. After you feel comfortable, are used to standing on spurs, get used to adjusting the length of the flip line; get used to pulling youself in and letting yourself fall back. a figure eight knot works well with most ropes for stability and adjustment.
After you can stand for a while without discomfort, fear or unsureness. take a step up with one foot, lean forward and lift the flip line up (both gloved hands) and finish the step. Then reverse, 30 or 40 cycles until the time interval as you step up seems slow. You have got to get to a place where the sense of time as you lift the flip line is not hurried, is without fear and is natural. This is the first place where almost everyone loses it. You can't climb safely if you can't get past that.
have at it
best of luck from an ex-climber
paul
physis
Senior Member
Re: Pole Climbing:
I've heard of burning a pole. I understand you either hold on and absorb a horendous quantity of splinters (like mentioned) or push off and hope for the best when you land. I've also heard that nobody really makes that desision until the time comes. I suppose the choise to push off doesn't exist anymore with the gear used and being strapped to the pole.
I've heard of burning a pole. I understand you either hold on and absorb a horendous quantity of splinters (like mentioned) or push off and hope for the best when you land. I've also heard that nobody really makes that desision until the time comes. I suppose the choise to push off doesn't exist anymore with the gear used and being strapped to the pole.
bphgravity
Senior Member
- Location
- Florida
Re: Pole Climbing:
Have you ever been to one of those lumberjack competitions? Now those guys know how to climb a pole!
Have you ever been to one of those lumberjack competitions? Now those guys know how to climb a pole!
Re: Pole Climbing:
I went through the motions when I was 19 and worked for a subcontractor to GTE. I don't know if I could have perfected it or not because it was only three awkward times as training.
Bryan,
Roger
I went through the motions when I was 19 and worked for a subcontractor to GTE. I don't know if I could have perfected it or not because it was only three awkward times as training.
Bryan,
ain't it the truth.
Roger
Re: Pole Climbing:
they use special spurs that can release easily by turning in the leg.
you won't burn out if a turn is taken on the pole with the flip line. you might lose your spur footing, but the turn on the pole means you just bang into the pole. you also don't seem to lose your spurs if one foot is above the other.
paul
they use special spurs that can release easily by turning in the leg.
you won't burn out if a turn is taken on the pole with the flip line. you might lose your spur footing, but the turn on the pole means you just bang into the pole. you also don't seem to lose your spurs if one foot is above the other.
paul
sandsnow
Senior Member
- Location
- Southern California
Re: Pole Climbing:
spurs - I was taught to call them hooks, regional thing I guess. Gaffs is the technical term.
From my experience, the closer your knee gets to the pole the more chance of a hook letting go. I was always told to keep my butt out away from the pole. That forces your knee away from the pole and keeps your leg and hence your hook at the correct angle to the pole. Without a drawing or picture it may be a little hard to imagine.
When standing on hooks the surest way to lose it is to pull into the pole. Not a natural thing to do, your instinct is to keep your body close to the pole.
I learned w/out any rope or belt around the pole while climbing. I tried climbing with a belt later and it felt more scary than without.
One of the hardest things to learn was to take one hand off the pole to unclip your belt and put it around the pole and then reach around and pass to your other hand. That's when you feel like hugging the pole, but if you pull your body in your hooks will pull out.
The first pole I climbed I was too scared to belt off, so I had to climb down.
A fun thing to do while climbing down is to spiral around the pole
Current reg's may require climbing with your belt or rope around the pole, though I've seen lineman recently who don't.
If you learn in a program, they have you toss a basketball to each other while belted off on a cluster of poles.
A lot of lineman are hard drinking.
If you want to see a good old film on lineman, look for "Slim" starring Henry Fonda. A foreman on a line crew recomended this to me. I have not seen it yet.
spurs - I was taught to call them hooks, regional thing I guess. Gaffs is the technical term.
From my experience, the closer your knee gets to the pole the more chance of a hook letting go. I was always told to keep my butt out away from the pole. That forces your knee away from the pole and keeps your leg and hence your hook at the correct angle to the pole. Without a drawing or picture it may be a little hard to imagine.
When standing on hooks the surest way to lose it is to pull into the pole. Not a natural thing to do, your instinct is to keep your body close to the pole.
I learned w/out any rope or belt around the pole while climbing. I tried climbing with a belt later and it felt more scary than without.
One of the hardest things to learn was to take one hand off the pole to unclip your belt and put it around the pole and then reach around and pass to your other hand. That's when you feel like hugging the pole, but if you pull your body in your hooks will pull out.
The first pole I climbed I was too scared to belt off, so I had to climb down.
A fun thing to do while climbing down is to spiral around the pole
Current reg's may require climbing with your belt or rope around the pole, though I've seen lineman recently who don't.
If you learn in a program, they have you toss a basketball to each other while belted off on a cluster of poles.
A lot of lineman are hard drinking.
If you want to see a good old film on lineman, look for "Slim" starring Henry Fonda. A foreman on a line crew recomended this to me. I have not seen it yet.
hurk27
Senior Member
- Location
- Portage, Indiana NEC: 2008
Re: Pole Climbing:
Larry They use to have a festival close to here in a place called furnaceville. Several of the events didn't use gaffs or belts. It was mostly firemen and lumbermen but there were a few linemen there. It was fun to watch.
[ December 07, 2004, 12:30 AM: Message edited by: hurk27 ]
Larry They use to have a festival close to here in a place called furnaceville. Several of the events didn't use gaffs or belts.
It was mostly firemen and lumbermen but there were a few linemen there. It was fun to watch.[ December 07, 2004, 12:30 AM: Message edited by: hurk27 ]
sandsnow
Senior Member
- Location
- Southern California
Re: Pole Climbing:
Ok Wayne, I'll bite. How did they get up the pole. Or was it just a drinking festival
Ok Wayne, I'll bite. How did they get up the pole. Or was it just a drinking festival
hurk27
Senior Member
- Location
- Portage, Indiana NEC: 2008
Re: Pole Climbing:
They just used ropes wrapped around there wrist and walked up the pole with there heavy boots, sliding the rope up as they went. Something I guess lumbermen would do. another contest was trying to climb a greased pole.
They just used ropes wrapped around there wrist and walked up the pole with there heavy boots, sliding the rope up as they went. Something I guess lumbermen would do. another contest was trying to climb a greased pole.
Re: Pole Climbing:
hurk: there must be some part of the description missing, albeit small. ironworkers can walk up beams by holding onto the flange. you can climb coconut trees by tying your feet together. but if you are climbing a pole with only a rope flip line and without crossing your legs, what holds you up when you lift the rope. or is this levitation.
paul
hurk: there must be some part of the description missing, albeit small. ironworkers can walk up beams by holding onto the flange. you can climb coconut trees by tying your feet together. but if you are climbing a pole with only a rope flip line and without crossing your legs, what holds you up when you lift the rope. or is this levitation.
paul
hurk27
Senior Member
- Location
- Portage, Indiana NEC: 2008
Re: Pole Climbing:
Just got in from my IAEI meeting.
From what I saw or think I saw they had this rope that looked soft that they would throw around the pole then jump up and there feet would land on the pole they would hang away from the pole and it looked like they were walking but every few steps they would pull themselves with a jerk and catch the rope up a few feet higher but there walking seem to not stop. It was amazing to me as I know I would not have the streanght to do that.
Just got in from my IAEI meeting.
From what I saw or think I saw they had this rope that looked soft that they would throw around the pole then jump up and there feet would land on the pole they would hang away from the pole and it looked like they were walking but every few steps they would pull themselves with a jerk and catch the rope up a few feet higher but there walking seem to not stop. It was amazing to me as I know I would not have the streanght to do that.
highkvoltage
Senior Member
Re: Pole Climbing:
Here are a few pointers.
1. Stay away from the pole and maintain a comfortable stance.
2.if you hold your arms straight out your wrist should be at the side of the pole.
3. Never bend your knees toward the pole.
4. Don't bury the gaffs to deep in the pole. A 1/4" will hold you.
5. Steps should be as you are walking up stairs when you are climbing up.
6. When desending double the distance you used going up.
(when we use to race we would jump out of the pole as drop about 3 to 4 feet.)
I like hooking and do it whenever I can. I don't get alot of opertunities to climb much now.
Here are a few pointers.
1. Stay away from the pole and maintain a comfortable stance.
2.if you hold your arms straight out your wrist should be at the side of the pole.
3. Never bend your knees toward the pole.
4. Don't bury the gaffs to deep in the pole. A 1/4" will hold you.
5. Steps should be as you are walking up stairs when you are climbing up.
6. When desending double the distance you used going up.
(when we use to race we would jump out of the pole as drop about 3 to 4 feet.)
I like hooking and do it whenever I can. I don't get alot of opertunities to climb much now.
charlie
Senior Member
- Location
- Indianapolis
Re: Pole Climbing:
What kind of shape are you knees in? It seems that most of our older linemen have bad knees and a few have bad backs. Climbing poles is not good for you in the long term.
What kind of shape are you knees in? It seems that most of our older linemen have bad knees and a few have bad backs. Climbing poles is not good for you in the long term.
highkvoltage
Senior Member
Re: Pole Climbing:
Charlie. Knees still good. 15 years ago I started doing mostly bucket truck work for inside contractors then started training for the journeyman inside wireman so I have been spared. But you are correct about the wear and tear. My old foreman use to eat asprin like candy just to get through the day. I now work both trades as a journeyman.
Charlie. Knees still good. 15 years ago I started doing mostly bucket truck work for inside contractors then started training for the journeyman inside wireman so I have been spared. But you are correct about the wear and tear. My old foreman use to eat asprin like candy just to get through the day. I now work both trades as a journeyman.
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