power company woes

Fairfield

Fairfield

Participating member
Location
Bucks County pa USA
Doing a takedown for my wife's uncle the other week. Silver maple with multiple leaders one had grown over a singal phase power line. After working in it for about an hour, I had set a zipline over the power line about 20ft above more then enough room to bring branches onto without loading the line so much that it comes close to the line. Started brining branches down (no problems) and the the local power company showed up. The boss of the truck came over and started to ask in his so nice way what I thought I was doing...... I thought to myself Tree, Ropes, Saw.... hhhmmmm I think I am taking a tree down. So after thinking that I nicely said that I was taking the tree down for my uncle. He then started telling me that I needed to be 10ft away from the line at all times and that I had in no way stayed that far away the hole time so I needed to come out of the tree at once. P.S it was a 4kv line..... ya. I would have loved to had told him that he was on private property and he could have a nice day, but I played nice that day and got out of the tree. Hahahaha I stayed the 10ft away coming down, while riding the zipline.. ya he about had a heart attack. I finished the job on turkey knowing that I prob would not be seeing him again that day.
Has anyone had such issues in the past with others that have no idea about you getting in the way? Oh and yes I know he was just trying to look out for my health and wellfare, what a nice guy.
 
I worked for Asplundh for 4 years, plus was on there storm crew... not saying that Asplundh is all that great, but hey I would like to think I was able to climb with and learn off of some great climbers
 
You should have educated him on the fact that you were a Line Clearance Arborist, are in possession of an EHAP (current I hope!), and all factors that go along with an EHAP cert (first aid/CPR/etc etc etc).

He had no clue who you were, and what your background is. I bet if you would have explained the situation to him, at the end he would have thrown some cover up on the lines for you and said have a good day!

BTW
The power co. has jurisdiction within 10' of their lines no matter where they run! its the national electric code.
 
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You should have educated him on the fact that you were a Line Clearance Arborist, are in possession of an EHAP (current I hope!), and all factors that go along with an EHAP cert (first aid/CPR/etc etc etc).

[/ QUOTE ]

And if was so kind, he'd of told you that your TCIA cert has no fed or gov backing and simplly means jack to him. Unless you have a contract with said power company to work thier lines, and go through their training and cert class.
 
Ya, well wanted to say all the ways I was certed to do the job but seeing how he could not hear a thing I was saying it was a little on the hard side. Pluse I really didnt want to tell the guy to F him self. My father-in-law was right there and I dont want him having that impression of me. Ya I know they have right away for 10ft around the wires. I think my only real issue is the way he was trying to handel it but hey you wont like everyone that talks to ya I guess. It was funny thou, he told me to call the office to have a shut down of the line and then I would not get gref for it. Funny I told him they would tell me to get the hell out of here. He said " no they do it all the time for home owners"...... right, I'm sure you know how that phone call ended.
 
zipline over the power \lines? it was near the road? i understand the need to get the brush near the chipper but i would drop it on glass patio stuff before i tried to zipline it over a powerline?
 
I'm pretty sure the power company owns the lines and if the same situation were up here in Ontario the company rep would have done the same thing. OHSA says 10 ft from that voltage but it also says anything that "could" fall within that 10 ft. For example, if a 60 ft tree is 12 ft away from the line would it be ok for a logger to simply free fall it??? Not a chance because if he knew that line was there, cut it and killed somebody that person is going to be charged.

You set up a zipline directly over a 4kv primary (which you knew was there) and was ready to tell the company rep to go F himself because he did not not what he was talking about? Did the power company know you were working near their lines and had permission to work above them? No, that guy was doing his due diligence and helping you out by the sounds of it.

The consequences of you actions may have been death if something happened.

Electricity hasn't heard you are invincible!

Later
 
you set up a zipline over the primaries, and then when asked to come down by the Utility representative you rode the zipline down?
 
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... Pluse I really didnt want to tell the guy to F him self. My father-in-law was right there and I dont want him having that impression of me.

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Fairfield, my fault...I read this as thinking you were going to. Sounds like you are a "civil" minded person which is good to hear
grin.gif
 
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