Tree With Power Line (Picture)

[diogenes]

Don't touch the lines. If your ropes are rubbing the lines, reposition so they are clear. Don't let ANY branches/wood land on the lines. If you reach a point where you think it is unavoidable to touch or drop pieces on the lines then stop, think, and possibly walk away from the job.

 

[RBJtree]

Also, I never assume that the coating on the wires is going to do anything. I treat every power line as if it will kill me if I don't follow procedure.

 

[Jem4417]

How do you guys think the utility arborists do the trees by the wires?

 

[Pacafist]

What do we say when the HO says "I have 3 freezers with 140 lbs of beef in them. I'm not turning off my power!"

Tell them it’s for the safety of your workers and if they have a freezer that can hold that amount of meat I’m pretty sure it can handle more than 8 hours of keeping things frozen as long as they don’t open it al the time. Power outages occur. It’s a thing.

 

[samsquatch]

Tell them it’s for the safety of your workers and if they have a freezer that can hold that amount of meat I’m pretty sure it can handle more than 8 hours of keeping things frozen as long as they don’t open it al the time. Power outages occur. It’s a thing.

I'm more referring to the unreasonable customers out there - the ones that "I won't because I shouldn't have to" types. We all know they are out there.

 

[Barc Buster]

I'm more referring to the unreasonable customers out there - the ones that "I won't because I shouldn't have to" types. We all know they are out there.

I think we've all had customers like that. Most decent folks wouldn't want someone to get injured working on there property. If they persist after explaining the danger, then I guess it comes down to how bad you want the customer. Personally I prefer to not work for people like that.

 

[Pacafist]

I think we've all had customers like that. Most decent folks wouldn't want someone to get injured working on there property. If they persist after explaining the danger, then I guess it comes down to how bad you want the customer. Personally I prefer to not work for people like that.

Exactly. If they understand the danger that you’ve explained to them, told them the laws about your proximity to working close to the lines, and they aren’t willing to have a drop when you’ve explained and they understand that you believe it’s necessary, then you have a customer who doesn’t value or respect you as a person, your profession, your workers, or any of your lives. -I’m referring to when a customer would refuse to have their power turned off in general hear. Not just for a service line by in general.

 

[RBJtree]

To those of you who have house drops dropped, do you do it often? Do you always get lines dropped when you would be working over them? I work over house drops very often. The only time I ever had one dropped was because the tree had grown around the wire. As in the wire was buried in the trunk. Sometimes it would definitly be easier to get the work done if the wires were dropped, but like I said, in my area that is a nightmare.

 

[Jehinten]

I ran into this, this evening
The job was to remove two maples that have seen years of storm damage and had large dead, rotten, and hollow limbs. He needed them removed today as we are expecting bad weather tomorrow and the last storm broke the limb in the pic and ripped the data wire off the house.

I did call the utility company to have them drop this due to the chances of a piece of deadwood breaking and falling on the wires. They were not available until tomorrow so I made the decision to work around it. Basically I followed my game plan that I typed out earlier in this thread, made small cuts and made sure to cut any forks out of the brush that might try to catch on the wire. Everything went great, just needed to have a little extra care when I was cutting near the wires.

 

[Jonny]

made small cuts and made sure to cut any forks out of the brush that might try to catch on the wire. Everything went great, just needed to have a little extra care when I was cutting near the wires.

Good stuff man, keeping things small, not getting greedy and not rushing.

Sometimes I'll wander around a tree with a pole saw or pole pruner before climbing. Reducing weight on the ends, and just shortening some stuff can make it easier to manage if I have to cut and hold and throw limbs. A sharp Japanese handsaw is my best friend for alot of hazards.

Stating the obvious and bitching a little bit here, but damn that would've been safer, easier, and cheaper if they'd called a year or two ago.

 

[Jehinten]

Stating the obvious and bitching a little bit here, but damn that would've been safer, easier, and cheaper if they'd called a year or two ago.

I definitely agree, in this case it's a new owner, He's in the process of flipping the house. There's been plenty of situations like this though with homeowner's that have lived there for years and just watched the tree decline.

 

[Jem4417]

I ran into this, this evening View attachment 58141
The job was to remove two maples that have seen years of storm damage and had large dead, rotten, and hollow limbs. He needed them removed today as we are expecting bad weather tomorrow and the last storm broke the limb in the pic and ripped the data wire off the house.

I did call the utility company to have them drop this due to the chances of a piece of deadwood breaking and falling on the wires. They were not available until tomorrow so I made the decision to work around it. Basically I followed my game plan that I typed out earlier in this thread, made small cuts and made sure to cut any forks out of the brush that might try to catch on the wire. Everything went great, just needed to have a little extra care when I was cutting near the wires.

Definitely doable obviously cause you did it but when the wire is all junked up like that I tend to get a little more worried. Did you use a bucket?

 

[Serf Life]

Hope you billed the job out accordingly @Jehinten. Gitterdun today with a messed up drop rubbing on the tree is hazard pay.

 

[Barc Buster]

To those of you who have house drops dropped, do you do it often? Do you always get lines dropped when you would be working over them? I work over house drops very often. The only time I ever had one dropped was because the tree had grown around the wire. As in the wire was buried in the trunk. Sometimes it would definitly be easier to get the work done if the wires were dropped, but like I said, in my area that is a nightmare.

The few times I've done it it's been for convenience. Turning day jobs into half day jobs. That makes for happy customers. It's also nice to not have to pussyfoot around those wires.

 

[Jehinten]

Definitely doable obviously cause you did it but when the wire is all junked up like that I tend to get a little more worried. Did you use a bucket?

Yea I used a bucket.

Hope you billed the job out accordingly @Jehinten. Gitterdun today with a messed up drop rubbing on the tree is hazard pay.

I made enough. Other than the wire being there it was an easy job. Even it wasn't bad, I cut and chucked everything off to the side of the driveway away from the wires.

 

[Jehinten]

I've certainly had wires dropped as well, usually if its pre planned our utility company is good about being there on time to get the wires down and then are back soon after to get the power back on.

One job in particular last winter I got called out to a job where another tree service removed a pin oak in a tight spot but refused to drop the trunk due to the close proximity of the garage, house, deck, and service wires. The utility and phone company both met me over there, dropped the wires and waited while I made my cuts then hooked it back up. Power was only out for 30 mins. Here's a pic from that one although the wire is already down it was running within 3-4" of the trunk. The house is just out of the picture to the left.

 

[Barc Buster]

I've certainly had wires dropped as well, usually if its pre planned our utility company is good about being there on time to get the wires down and then are back soon after to get the power back on.

One job in particular last winter I got called out to a job where another tree service removed a pin oak in a tight spot but refused to drop the trunk due to the close proximity of the garage, house, deck, and service wires. The utility and phone company both met me over there, dropped the wires and waited while I made my cuts then hooked it back up. Power was only out for 30 mins. Here's a pic from that one although the wire is already down it was running within 3-4" of the trunk. The house is just out of the picture to the left.
View attachment 58143

Exactly. I view it as just another trick in the bag.

 

[samsquatch]

I think we've all had customers like that. Most decent folks wouldn't want someone to get injured working on there property. If they persist after explaining the danger, then I guess it comes down to how bad you want the customer. Personally I prefer to not work for people like that.

To each their own. I prefer the professional relationship, where they don't need to be worried about my safety.
But back on topic, what I'm wondering is - If they really don't want the power shut off but they're willing to pay you handsomely to work around them - what's our next step?
Do electric utility companies install sleeves/eels on service lines or is that reserved only for distribution lines? Can we still climb those trees, or are we talking about fiberglass buckets only? Assuming the worst (the wires are bare, rubbing, and electricity is flowing thru a green tree) how realistic is it to climb around in a tree like this without getting injured?
Food for thought.

 

[colb]

Yea a second look and it’s not a bundle. Work around service lines is a grey area. If everyone who was ever within approach of a service line got it dropped that’s all the utility would have time to do. Plus it’s a scheduling nightmare

I request service drops in every circumstance where I'll (or my climbing line or tree limbs) be within 10 feet. I had a 35 foot redbud to prune last fall and it was over a service line. I called in the utility and he used his 40 ft. bucket to prune part of it for me so that he wouldn't have to drop the line. I knew he would do that, and still called because I don't f*ck with power lines unless I'm an ISA certified (or other similar cert) line clearance arborist. Power line shock is a leading cause of mortality in our industry. My superficial understanding is that @rico is right, if the cover is intact you'll be fine. If it's not and you contact it with water or metal (yourself, wet climbing line, branch, silky hayachi, foggy day, etc.), you'll get zapped with enough juice to stop your heart, but not fry you outright.

 

[colb]

How do you guys think the utility arborists do the trees by the wires?

According to their specialized training.