Spikes.

[Hemingray Insulators]

S'cuse me fore askin, but what are WOLF climbers??

[graybeard]

Its just a brand like brooks and klien but I have no idea were he got them

[Edge]

Get a set of Bashilin's, and learn to Climb.
http://www.wolfclaw.com/

Well fu(4in' said...

Edge

hooks in toes up... gettin' high is easy...

[wtdoor67]

go on and on about different brands of hooks etc. but the crux of the matter is the overwhelming use of bucket truck has contributed to the lack of climbing skills.

I used to change jobs and the question of climbing was never mentioned. The fact that you were a lineman meant that you could climb, right? I have actually witnessed people that applied for Journeyman jobs and could not climb. Unbelievable!

I worked with a guy once who had worked for S.Cal. Ed. He related that early in the job he was tooling up to climb a pole when a bunch of the brass showed up. Why are they here, he asked? To see if you can climb, was the reply. Unbelievable.

I have seen many so called Journeyman who's first question was. Can we get a bucket to it?

It used to be just a phone call and you showed up and maybe took a physical and went to work. Now it's climbing tests, written and probably a long interview with a power co. What a farce. They still get some ding dongs that slip through the cracks.

Everybody seems to think that a certain brand of hooks are the answer. I've seen guys who could take anybodies hooks, strap them on and do a creditable job. Ah, today's lineman. The wave of the future.

I know this is a little off the thread, but a lengthy discussion of the brands of hooks etc. just seems a little trivial to me. I know everbody usually settles on their favorite brand etc. but I guess my point is that everybody needs to learn to climb well and they don't anymore. I have witnessed many "Journeyman" who were embarassing to watch as they climbed a pole.

Working off the pole is going to hell in a handbasket I guess.

Worked with a guy once, that if he heard there was some heavy duty pole work coming up, would call in sick. True. Maybe it'll all be underground someday.

[graybeard]

I know this is alittle off the tread too but things are changing on the utility side of line work. These companies are now being run by lawyers and accountants who are ONLY looking at bottom lines are SAFTY GOALS. They don't even want you to climb any more than absolutly nessasary. Used you would put your apps in thier hooks all the time untill they became hot and then they could they could get in the bucket. Now if you do it and they get hurt you better have a good reason why they were climbing instead of in the bucket. I know of a guy that bid an app job thats 56 with bad knees and is convinced he can be a lineman. The industry is not headed in a good direction.

[LINETRASH]

Brooks hooks. no sustitute.

Gettin' rare though.....

I was wearing them for a poletop rescue demo a while back and nobody had heard of them.

[thrasher]

A while back I hired an eight year journeyman away from the contractors. I had seen this man work and climb, while he was no speed demon he was good, safe and neat. Anyway came time for our annual pole-top rescue practice/test and he had NEVER done it or SEEN it done. We taught him and he does it now but I couldn't believe a journeyman that had never seen or practiced pole top rescue. By the way he had never practiced bucket rescue either. I have since added a couple of more questions to my interview.
As you said greybeard the times are changing.

[scammy]

once again I have nothing against contractors,,they are paid to do a job ,,(like me ) ,,they get alot of shit jobs ,,,,most fatalitys are contractors ,,because of the enviornment that they have to work in ,,,,its cost motivated,,so as a result you have accidents ,,like a second day ape on a transmission tower,,training is minamal,,,,mostly hands on ,,by the grace of god ,,these boys are hard workers,,,,and willing ,,,I just wish there was a better industry standard,,and it is also almost criminal for these companys to use ( and I mean use) these men ,,,,by hireing them and washing thier hands of all responsibility,,,(because ,,they should know)how to do the work,,,,,no test given,,,to see what they know,,,,,I gotta go now ,Im getting too worked up,,scammy

[mainline]

The NJATC and its fellow programs teach lineman how to do stuff through classes both hands on and book work. I wish I had finished. That said I now for a union utility, training is a joke. If you don't work in an area that does a lot of gloving you get just about zero exposure. What you do get is all OJT. Transmission you might as well forget about. The company talks about what a good work force they have but it is in spite of not because of the training. We don't even give a skills test upon hiring, so we have no idea if the new employees can perform poletop rescue or bucket rescue, or even climb. As far as the union non-union issue we have small non-union contractors in state who are very good, and a large one who is scary. Its a crap shoot, all you can do is watch your back, and the backs of your fellow lineman.

[Edge]

well this thread sorta got turned around then just fizzled out so in the interest of getting back on track....

Anyone ever climb in a pair of CA French or W Cadieux? or know where I could get a set of those or some other type of bastard hooks?

Edge

Blazing sun :check
rain :check
sleet :check
snow :check
hail :check
floods, tornadoes, hurricanes... check, check, check

been there done that... what else ya got?