help working next to powerlines

[Lorry thompson]

Thought so mate. My mate cleared a HV line to spec once and when he was finished I leant on a branch of that tree when talking to him and I got a static shock from the tree scary stuff!

[scottythepinetree]

Think it's absolute tosh about LV (240v) earthing through a tree. Possibly track on a really wet day. And I mean really wet. Been cutting LV day in day out for 4 years. Regardless of species, sap etc. never so much as a tickle.

 

Might not be best practice, and for the sake of any legal implications to Mr. Bullman I'm not suggesting anyone go out and try it, but this has been my experience and the experience of every single lad I've worked with during that time.

[Lorry thompson]

I've had a little tingle through a conifer branch mate was very light but still a tingle

[combined tree services]

Think it's absolute tosh about LV (240v) earthing through a tree. Possibly track on a really wet day. And I mean really wet. Been cutting LV day in day out for 4 years. Regardless of species, sap etc. never so much as a tickle.

 

Might not be best practice, and for the sake of any legal implications to Mr. Bullman I'm not suggesting anyone go out and try it, but this has been my experience and the experience of every single lad I've worked with during that time.

 

sorry to burst your bubble but it is pretty easy to get a shock from 240 volts , i have been on sigh when this has happened .

[Frank]

I once changed a plug in a pond pump and felt the full force of 240v for about a split second. Threw me back about 3 foot and I was shaking for about 5 minutes after.

 

Oh, the things you think you can do when you are 14.

[jefflovstrom]

I really like reading you guy's post's. Trying to learn the different word's. I dont post much. I've read the thread and thought I would find out if it was a 'house drop' or over ' high voltage'. Seem's like most thought the latter. I like post #45 by Scott., I know a phone line can zap you, but are you talking about over 'High Voltage'?

Jeff

[Taupotreeman]

Sorry scottythepinetree but I have a book from the US here full of fatalities within the arb industry and line clearance. 351 in total and some are examples of low voltage earthing through trees. The book was colated by OSHA in the US. Most are direct contact eletrocutions but this means that the LV line has to earth through the tree in order for the worker to be electrocuted unless it was phase to phase (which it wasn't). To add to that I have had a belt from 230v earthed through the tree and have worked with a safety training officer who has documented several incidents of LV electrocution through direct or indirect contact while in a tree. Just because you haven't heard of it happening doesn't mean to say it doesn't. And I would also suggest that if you haven't had a tickle yet while cutting stuff that sounds like you should have, then you're luckier than some; unless I read your statement incorrectly.

[Taupotreeman]

One of several examples.

[scottythepinetree]

Sorry scottythepinetree but I have a book from the US here full of fatalities within the arb industry and line clearance. 351 in total and some are examples of low voltage earthing through trees. The book was colated by OSHA in the US. Most are direct contact eletrocutions but this means that the LV line has to earth through the tree in order for the worker to be electrocuted unless it was phase to phase (which it wasn't). To add to that I have had a belt from 230v earthed through the tree and have worked with a safety training officer who has documented several incidents of LV electrocution through direct or indirect contact while in a tree. Just because you haven't heard of it happening doesn't mean to say it doesn't. And I would also suggest that if you haven't had a tickle yet while cutting stuff that sounds like you should have, then you're luckier than some; unless I read your statement incorrectly.

 

You read it correctly. That is never had a tickle nor any of the lads I work with from LV. Certainly not suggesting being complacent around LV though. Surely direct contact means that the electricity earths through the cutter, and doesn't imply that he was standing in a tree at the time. Would be interested to see a case that implicitly states that a worker was killed by LV earthing through timber as our Network Operators own guidelines state that voltage must exceed 1000v to earth through a tree. They do forbid work in heavy rain though.

 

Have had a tickle while removing ivy from a 20kv pole. Ivy was in contact with an insulated part of the line in that situation. More a belt than a tickle.

[Treemon]

More people get killed on LV than HV