Q on electrical safety gloves and boots

[Lineman North Florida]

Trimming a few small limbs from around your tri-plex insulated house service is not a big deal, as others have said a good dry pair of leather gloves is what we used to use for years to handle bare secondary's. You should not have to handle the wire at all, if a limb gets hung on the service use your fiberglass handle pole saw to get it off, as someone else said a little common sense goes a long way, you know what your capabilities are, stay within them and you won't have any problems.

[boggen]

i chicken out, and will call a tree service company that is "insured" to come out and deal with the branches.

once a year i see tree service trucks making rounds on all roads. cutting back trees from lines. i have called power company, and asked to be put on a list for next time they are around to deal with branches. few months later branches are taken care of that are near the power lines.

[Scooby074]

Buy new gloves. Many surplus places sell rubber gloves but you have no idea why they were taken out of service (time, cut? whatever). Check them before use by rolling them to check for air leaks (air leak = break in insulation = bad day).

Silky saws are amongst the best out there, but considering your use, have a look at the Jameson poles.Most are actual "hot sticks" and tested as such. Then you can add a saw or pruner head (insulated cord available as well). Price should end up being about the same or less than the Silky unit.

[newbury]

If the trees are between the transformer and before the meter isn't it the power company to be called.
it is thiers until meter is installed. then your responcibility.
Rubber gloves are used by those who under stand the reason needed.

Remember no body wants you to look like fried bacon.

ken

Nope - When I called the power companies they told me their responsibility ended at the pole, both in Mississippi and Virginia. In Virginia they wouldn't even recommend a contractor. They will drop the power for me or a contractor but that can take days to line up and then they couldn't tell me what day it would be turned back on. They try to make it within a day, but sometimes it takes longer, and weekends are out. Thus if I schedule a drop for Wednesday they MIGHT get the drop done on Wednesday or Thursday. And if I get the line dropped on Thursday the power might be out until Monday.

Trimming a few small limbs from around your tri-plex insulated house service is not a big deal, as others have said a good dry pair of leather gloves is what we used to use for years to handle bare secondary's. You should not have to handle the wire at all, if a limb gets hung on the service use your fiberglass handle pole saw to get it off, as someone else said a little common sense goes a long way, you know what your capabilities are, stay within them and you won't have any problems.

I definitely don't plan on handling the wire. Not even getting close. And rubber gloves inside leather gloves. Should I plan on any special boots?

Buy new gloves. Many surplus places sell rubber gloves but you have no idea why they were taken out of service (time, cut? whatever). Check them before use by rolling them to check for air leaks (air leak = break in insulation = bad day).

Silky saws are amongst the best out there, but considering your use, have a look at the Jameson poles.Most are actual "hot sticks" and tested as such. Then you can add a saw or pruner head (insulated cord available as well). Price should end up being about the same or less than the Silky unit.

Thanks, when I price the Jameson's at Bailey's (and the Marvin) they are a lot less expensive. a Jameson 2 pole set plus 2 more 6' poles only runs about $220.

And I'd no sooner buy used safety gloves than used condoms.

[Scooby074]

Nope - When I called the power companies they told me their responsibility ended at the pole, both in Mississippi and Virginia. In Virginia they wouldn't even recommend a contractor. They will drop the power for me or a contractor but that can take days to line up and then they couldn't tell me what day it would be turned back on. They try to make it within a day, but sometimes it takes longer, and weekends are out. Thus if I schedule a drop for Wednesday they MIGHT get the drop done on Wednesday or Thursday. And if I get the line dropped on Thursday the power might be out until Monday.




I definitely don't plan on handling the wire. Not even getting close. And rubber gloves inside leather gloves. Should I plan on any special boots?



Thanks, when I price the Jameson's at Bailey's (and the Marvin) they are a lot less expensive. a Jameson 2 pole set plus 2 more 6' poles only runs about $220.

And I'd no sooner buy used safety gloves than used condoms.

Jameson makes several different models of pole, I believe its the JE and FG that are tested with high voltage.

Lol on the uses condom thing..

Reminds me of a joke:
How do you reuse a condom... turn it inside out and shake the xxxx out of it

[Lineman North Florida]

Nope - When I called the power companies they told me their responsibility ended at the pole, both in Mississippi and Virginia. In Virginia they wouldn't even recommend a contractor. They will drop the power for me or a contractor but that can take days to line up and then they couldn't tell me what day it would be turned back on. They try to make it within a day, but sometimes it takes longer, and weekends are out. Thus if I schedule a drop for Wednesday they MIGHT get the drop done on Wednesday or Thursday. And if I get the line dropped on Thursday the power might be out until Monday.




I definitely don't plan on handling the wire. Not even getting close. And rubber gloves inside leather gloves. Should I plan on any special boots?



Thanks, when I price the Jameson's at Bailey's (and the Marvin) they are a lot less expensive. a Jameson 2 pole set plus 2 more 6' poles only runs about $220.

And I'd no sooner buy used safety gloves than used condoms.

You are more than safe if you are not going to be touching the wire with the safety equipment that you say you are going to be using, but if it makes you feel better put on a good pair of rubber boots, it certainly can't hurt anything. Good luck you will do fine if you follow your plan.

[heviduty]

Got pictures of the situation?

[newbury]

Thanks guys, once more the collective mind (borg) of TBN comes thru with timely and seemingly knowledgeable advice.

[Danno1]

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You can buy boots with a EH (electrical hazard) rating:


Infor ERP Storefront Commerce



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[sparc]

I don't think it's a good idea. There are some things that are better left to the professionals.

I agree with the above comment. Somewhat related is a freind of mind just got his power back this weekend. Last week the neutral came loose up on the pole where his service dropp originates and dell on one of the hot lines. This put 120v on his neutral and fried most everything in his house. This was not due to some work he was doing it just failed. The utility is picking up the tab to install a new service drop, new meter socket and meter, and on the hook for any repairs to his home electrical system plus replaceing any damaged appliances or other electrical powered equipment damaged. they will also have to replace a section of his copper water line because the current passing through there to ground burned a hole in the water line where the ground was connected.

So if you were asking yourself what could go wrong (besides getting killed), that might give you an idea. Except in your case if you're doing the work then you will have to pay for the repairs and replace all those items damaged out of your pocket.