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Pole Strap Connected to Conductor

  • Pole Strap Connected to Conductor

    Posted by Graeme Jackson on 26 July 2023 at 9:50 am

    When is it OK to connect your pole strap to the overhead conductor for fall arrest safety? Our lines team are installing vibration dampeners to a new line build and have asked the question “if one pole strap or lanyard is connected to the pole or structure is it acceptable to use a second pole strap connected to the conductor to achieve a work position that would allow the dampeners to be installed 1.4 meters from the arms. Attaching to the conductor is, as I understand it, accepted for work on pillions as the insulator strings for EHV can prevent attaching to the structure.

    The SM-EI states, – “the pole trap shall be attached to a secure part of the structure from which it cannot slip” does this include the conductor?

    Does anyone have guidance on a minimum conductor size?

    Thanks Jacko

    Stephen Small replied 1 year, 6 months ago 3 Members · 2 Replies
  • 2 Replies
  • Bill Doig

    Member
    26 July 2023 at 10:46 am

    Why not use a retractable fall arrest device i.e. the DBI-SALA https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/p/d/v000359421/

    We use the one that grabs at any angle for on top of transformers. I wouldn’t be happy with using one point of attachment onto distribution conductors

  • Stephen Small

    Member
    28 July 2023 at 7:31 am

    Are any of your engineers willing to go on record and state that the conductor in it’s current condition is rated for the force imposed by a falling body plus acceptable safety margin (which is usually a minimum of 3x to 6x)?

    As Bill points out there must be better options (personally as a qualified rigger, I would rather tie off to a suspended Hiab hook than a non-rated conductor)???

    Stephen.

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