Hazardous tension on Powerline - working solo

Hey Everyone!
Capturing this job was a spur of the moment decision. Our crews were all still cleaning up storm calls and there was only a few of us left "holding down the fort". If figured I could safely remove the hazard and restore power by myself while (of course) following all procedures.
Be safe out there everyone! 👊🍻
Check out DragonWear arc rated gear here!🔥🔥 (Not an affiliate link)
➡️www.truenorthg...
***
Keep in mind my videos are to be used as guidelines only!
There are many different ways to preform the tasks shown in this videos.
Always adhere to your own company's policies and procedures.
This work should only be preformed only by those whom are both trained and authorized to do so! ***
Huge thanks to my Patreons! 👊👊
➡ / bobsdecline
#Lineman​​ #Dragonwear #Milwaukeetools

[@wilgerdes3240]

If this had happened in an August wind storm & with a dry summer, what would you have done different as to dropping hot embers (trunk still smouldering) on to the forest floor? Do you carry Indian pumps on your trucks in the summer for grass fires as a result of your work?

[@Bobsdecline]

Great question! I carry 2-4 extinguishers at all times. Typically a D with soap and a couple ABC's. Also the fire dept with help out and douse the ground below once the line is isolated and grounded.

[@AlASokolov]

​@@Bobsdecline16:46 Maybe you need to tie wire down first and then release him carefully

[@RandomDude989]

Out here in Michigan... Consumers Energy won't cut trees. They will cut the power and then sit and wait for the tree trimmer company out and cut the trees. This can take hours or days. Had a tree fall 3 doors down, take down power lines. They cut the power and cleaned up the down wire then sat around. I asked if they knew an ETA and they said nope, waiting on a tree service from 4 hours away to come cut the tree as they aren't lumberjacks. I said nether am I but I'll be right back. I had it all cut up in 20 minutes with my Poulan Pro Saw. They said I can't cut the trees as its not my property and I said you wanna speak to the land owner? Let me call him.

[@Bobsdecline]

Oh man that's rough. We cut just about anything... We've got contracts with arborist but they do their own thing. We pair up with them during large storms, but cut right along side em. Only time we'll sit and wait is if the removal is quite technical. The arborists are definitely way more skilled, while we're more of a wrecking crew when it comes to tree removals.

[@stephenchoiniere2530]

Another great video Arron. Happy New Year 🎉 Stay safe. Steve from Massachusetts 😊

[@3starsupremacy483]

Sounds like a unique incident. I’m a lineman for that company and the only way I wouldn’t cut a tree off a line is if I didn’t feel it was safe. I’m not a tree trimmer but I know when I should and shouldn’t call a tree crew. Most of the time we cut our own stuff off in storms or normal blue sky days. Sounds like this person got a bad crew.

[@dfirth224]

Probably has to do with the union contract. Or the Utility company is worried about lawsuits, workman's comp, etc.

[@jaysmith1408]

Same on our fire department, we don’t cut down trees, unless we can’t leave until it’s cut. Then the four of us who are well versed in tree removal all suddenly remember where we kept our chainsaws and get right on it.

[@apollorobb]

I think your Company should be Damn proud to have an Employee like you Advertising for them. They dont know what they are missing out on as far as Advertising .

[@549BR]

Maybe they do know, as Erin would be an excellent recruitment tool.

[@jolyonwelsh9834]

Well he's near perfect. Otherwise he probably wouldn't be there in the first place.

[@Mackinstyle]

Never again will I ever think, even quietly and politely, "why is it taking so long to get service back?"

[@dang48]

Yup. Nothing we could do except sit tight and let these folks do their magic.

[@ArmpitStudios]

Thanks for mentioning the snow/ice buildup on the cover. It should be a law that all trucks clean their roofs of snow and ice. I’ve seen too many huge sheets flying off of them.

[@Bobsdecline]

I agree. Every year we hear about ice going through someone's windshield :/

[@549BR]

Easier said then done; just how would you do it?

[@ArmpitStudios]

@@549BR You kiddin’? Start with not making them flat on top. Even a gentle curve would prevent a lot of it. For removal, I can think of all kinds of tools that 1 or 2 people could easily employ to break it up and or slide it off. A little imagination can go a long way toward success.

[@aaronlaw718]

Very interesting video. I'm a farmer in southern NB and we had an extended outage from the windstorm before Christmas. This video and your other content give me a great perspective on your trade and the level of work that goes into repairs and restoring power from weather damage. These two recent windstorms made a real mess. Thank you for being out there when everyone else wants to be inside and comfortable. Awareness and acknowledgement of our infrastructure and those that maintain it, is sorely lacking. Thank you and Happy New Year.

[@JeffD63]

Was watching a noted safety practice that people forget about because it is a simple one. You keep the opening of your rubber liners and leather gloves pointing downwards. A piece of debris inside can cause you to accidiently release your hold at a bad time.

[@jaygosch8705]

Watching that part of the trunk fly when you undercut the neutral really shows how much energy that tension provides. It looked like it flew 10 to 20 feet! Happy New Year and thanks for the video!

[@FosterFarmsOk]

appreciate what you line guys do. stay safe!

[@Bobsdecline]

Thanks Fosterfarms! 🍻🤝

[@DarrenSteele-mx3ks]

I am a new viewer and wow so enjoying your videos I study electronics and found you on KZbin- now there are others as well and you respect all these linesmen and that's great I mention this cause I only watch yours its just that good!

[@ToolShow]

Man I love watching these work vids. Thanks for sharing your work with us Bob! Happy New Year!

[@photocontrol]

Great job clearing the snag from the lines. Good tip about checking for and clearing ice buildup on the bucket cover. Happy New Year!

[@AQLawnAndTree]

To make that even safer( this is coming from me a 5 year journeyman line clerance tree trimmer) make that cut lower for the neutral, the farther away the cut the less gallop ull have on that line, log out ripped the saw outta your hand. Undercut real slow and watch it starts popping boom out and let gravity do the rest.

[@pjford1118]

After a storm in my area there were many trees on the line. When Ontario Hydro came doing a line check and found one in my yard the linesman made note of it. He was solo and same rule he wasn't allowed to use a chainsaw while solo. We came up with a different solution, I passed him a synthetic winch cable and pulled the tree up right. I then dropped the tree with my chainsaw, a side winch on your tree would have work for you as there was trees behind that can be used as an anchor. If you try this put your winch cable as low on the anchor tree as possible.

[@Bobsdecline]

Yessir! Glad you shared that 🙌 A technique that works quite well. I'll often use my 1.5 tonne come alongs exactly as how you described too

[@PRR1954]

OMG, that tree is burning! I've cut a lot of mossy and dead trees just like that, but rarely in the ice, and never while they smoldered. About having a safety-partner with a chainsaw but not for the battery SawzAll.... 20 years back a battery reciprocating saw would hardly cut your finger off (you could still drive or call for help); but today's Li batteries and Niobium motors with an AX grade blade can whack through a moose leg pretty quick.

[@kens.3729]

Thanks Aaron. Wishing you a Safe, Happy and Healthy 2024. Keep up the Strong 💪 Efforts in 2024. 👍

[@brendangalios1961]

We've been cleaning up downed poles for a week from that storm. Got 2.5" of ice build up across parts of our territory and we had hundreds of poles downed from all that weight on the lines

[@steveggca]

Hi Bob thanks for your work! For those not on the east coast of the US and Canada, we have had 2 weekends in a row of extreme wind and rain. The area of New Brunswick that my father lives was without power for almost a week. Again thanks for your efforts ,much appreciated Have you tried the lee valley recipricating saw pruning blade ? its based on a japanese pruning saw blade,lasts forever and is very sharp, In my opinion far better than any of the hardware store blades

[@SodiumInduction-hv]

Wow!!! i’m gonna be a lineman in the future!

[@SodiumInduction-hv]

im a lineman now lol

[@ray73864]

A tree on a line like that here in Western Australia, we would already have a massive bushfire on our hands.

[@heatherkohlwey8379]

You should carry some marshmallows in the truck. Thank you for sharing all of these interesting videos. May you and your family have a safe, healthy and blessed 2024.

[@jordanbeach2156]

My power company here in ontario canada gave me written permission that as long as there is no powerline contact I’m allowed to clean up tree damage as long as I feel comfortable just this year we had four tornadoes, a windstorm and ice storm last February and it took days with the Hydro company and arborists clean up so they welcome me being willing to cut up trees

[@mzrzfxr]

Solid hard work as always, good to see your passion for getting the job done! A bit of a power disaster here in Michigan with our local utility (DTE) really bad about trimming trees, tho they are trying to catch up. When their is any even moderately bad weather here, this video is a common sight with trees on wires :-/ With DTE It’s the land of generators here…

[@nickrod9526]

Here in upstate NY, National Grid will not cut trees down. They'll kill power and wait for a tree truck to cut them down. After everything is deemed safe, they'll turn power back on. One thing you have do deal with up here during the winter if/when we have ice storms.

[@Enfield-1853]

I got 4 decades of service with a phone company. Couple decades in construction. Been through 3 major hurricanes and ice storms. You better know what you are doing and what is in a bind or may have pressure on it when you cut a tree off of any arial lines. Very easy to get hurt. We have a lot of pines in our area. They are not to bad to cut off a line. Oak trees and any multi big limb trees are a horse of a different color. Be careful out there.

[@davidwestervelt6050]

Thanks for explaining the danger involved. Nice that is at least pine trees causing issues. Hopefully we still have nice weather and don t have to deal with the ice and snow yet. It sure will be here soon. Stay safe out there. I'm not looking forward to the bitter cold days.

[@SweezyDaddy]

Good job, I'm a lineman and had soooo many tree guys tear down spans!

[@pearsonebfd1]

Try Milwaukie's 9 in. 5 TPI Pruning blades

[@bertblankenstein3738]

Linework involves being a part time arborist. Thank you for the video.

[@wittenhenderson875]

I love these looks into trade jobs that I didn't go into.

[@martf1061]

Great video. But i thought the "hazardous TENSION" was going to be about Electrical tension . Lol

[@mattc.310]

Good point about the bucket cover in the wet and cold. Safety should be job one. Bad things can happen otherwise.

[@scrotiemcboogerballs1981]

Always a great video hope you have a wonderful new year ahead buddy god bless

[@Bobsdecline]

🤝 Thanks Scrotie! I wish you all the same!

[@eddy3061]

Much respect for what you guys do

[@joeandmakayla6185]

Be safe out there brother much love from nwt

[@alan.macrae]

Great video, Aaron. Happy New Year. Hope 2024 is a great for you. 👊👊

[@Bobsdecline]

Happy New year Alan! Thanks! 👊🤝👊

[@brianwolent9593]

way to go..... safety first.

[@Inotna100]

Love ya Brother!

[@Tigerhawk1981]

Happy New Year!!!!

[@frederickbowman4494]

great video

[@mkollek]

That looked like a regular wood recipe saw blade on that Milwaukee. Pick up a pruning blade for that thing. Works magic.

[@johnclyne6350]

Aaron we’ve been wearing Dragon Ware for a while. Top shelf stuff! That’s a nice jacket! We just got our new allowance money for 24. I’ll have to see if that is in the catalog through Tyndale (our approved supplier of HR clothing). Some guys have the Milwaukee “Hacksaw”. I still use the Sawzall. The Hacksaw is a better balanced tool as I see. Keep up the great content. Happy New Year bro!

[@robcnp6757]

Love all these vids about the actual work. So is there a precise weight rating that these lines can take before they need to be replaced, or is it just when they are visibly damaged ?

[@David0lyle]

Safety is incredibly important. If for no other reason YOU, holy crap, guys that get something, ANYTHING done are hard to find.

[@bclineman5250]

I love using a digger to get trees off the lines. We had a couple of guys get hurt this year because of large trees on the lines

[@Samanthareneeheart10]

Intresting the way you did that. Take care Arron.

[@jovetj]

*Aaron

[@liam3284]

The potential catapult

[@brianlamarra5491]

Happy New Year! Always enjoy your videos, and stay safe out there.

[@imeprezime1285]

Good job! 👍

[@samjones1954]

does the tree carry current? If you where to touch it near the trunk would that be hazerdous?

[@Bobsdecline]

Yes. Tree would be considered a semi conductor, especially when wet.

[@dpolendo]

Hero

[@brentoconnor6127]

Hey Aaron. Thought about that second cut. I noticed that the way the tree released, the kerf the blade was in stayed with the upper block and looked like it pulled the saw with it a bit. Is it worth putting a relief cut below the main cut on the opposite side so that when the tree separates it separates in a more predictable path? You definitely wouldn’t put the relief above the main cut as then the tree would pull the saw down. The thought comes from the technique used by loggers for separating blow down trees from their stumps. Done wrong and when the stump settles it pulls the saw with it, but done right nothing pulls the saw. Always enjoy watching! It’s nice to see a home town guy do a great job for the folks in the area. Keep up the good work!

[@ericwilliams952]

I love the moving of the elec saw…..lol

[@Bobsdecline]

Me too! Helps clear out all the fine wood chips that build up on the teeth inside the cut. 😁

[@SonuLaduna]

I am Indian your work is good 👍

[@christopherleubner6633]

Dangerous job😮 My weapon of choice would have been a battery operated chain saw on a pole or judicious use of a 50 cal. The way that tree is leaning on it is gonna cause a lot of tension. 😮

[@travisparks7748]

At hydro one in Ontario we have to have two guys working together

[@rivefire]

Enjoy your meat and potatoes call....good decision to leave the phone lines...electricity first. Tower Woods Road ? Happy new Year bud.

[@Bobsdecline]

It was greatly enjoyed 🙌🍻! Close... Mary point back end

[@rivefire]

Ha ok the water duh. Down in James country. Can be nasty there. @@Bobsdecline

[@Bobsdecline]

Yessir! He called 'er in actually. She was burning pretty good, didn't kick the line. You as well Doug!

[@AlexOop2013]

Happy new year!🎉

[@sherm848]

Get the forge battery when ever you get a chance lasts longer

[@Bobsdecline]

You're right! I've got a couple, but they weren't in the truck with me :(

[@ytmadpoo]

It's fascinating to watch this kind of work being done. I was contemplating the physics of the process and can't help wondering if you could have lopped off the top part of the tree to reduce weight, and then rather than have the weight fall onto the neutral once you move that hot line out of the way, could you move on down to the neutral and then cut a notch *below* the neutral wire so the tension of the top wire would break it and now you've freed up both wires in one step? Maybe even cut the tree below where the phone lines were strung so that's clear as well. It may depend on what's below since it'll fling a larger part of the tree but in terms of getting it done quicker, I couldn't help but think if that's more efficient. Unless I'm missing something that makes that more dangerous?

[@jamesashley3827]

👊

[@aaronsmith5687]

I see a lashed line under the neutral. Who does that work in your area? Also who is the provider for the cable/ internet? For the last 5 years I've done hard line cable for Charter Spectrum

[@Bobsdecline]

Rogers and Bell, but they mostly use contractors for all their construction and lashing, just local contractors that vary.

[@williammay5300]

HAPPY NEW YEAR

[@lewy1]

Are you aloud to go up in a bucket in New Brunswick when you are by yourself? In Ontario you cannot go in the air when you are working alone. Do you have a jib on your bucket?

[@Bobsdecline]

Yes, we have a very long and specific list of stipulations and task we can and cannot do

[@adamv5047]

You need a hot stick attachment for your Milwaukee hackzall.

[@grabasandwich]

I'm curious how often you *do* encounter potential on an open line? I may have mentioned it before, but one time as a telco FST, my FVD went red on a metal telephone terminal. Hydro came out and I think he confirmed with his FVD (edit: his went red as well), but then touched it and said it was ok.

[@Bobsdecline]

Not very often... When we do, it's usually capacitive coupling from a transmission line passing nearby.

[@rogerneumann8105]

Would you also want to step down the voltage on the non-contact sensor or is it sensitive to voltage other than the voltage you set it on? IE if someone had a generator backfeeding the line and you had it set on 12kV would it still sense the live wire? @@Bobsdecline

[@Bobsdecline]

In the case of a generator, yes it would still pick it up. The voltage would "step up" through the transformer to the 12470/7200 level. Mind, their Genny would trip pretty quick trying to pick up the distribution circuit. If the non contact detector is going off when it shouldn't be, you almost have to use a contact/resistor type. A scenario I plan on covering soon!

[@grabasandwich]

@@Bobsdecline looking forward to it! My FVD is the big yellow one with the pointy tip. I used it more on the telco side, but even then it was rare, and I think most of my coworkers never used theirs. I'm considering an amp clamp for checking coax though, for possible open neutral scenarios.

[@JCWren]

Does your second man for chainsaw usage have to be a power company guy, or do you have agreements with other rated agencies, like the fire department? I know around here the FD carry saws on the their trucks, and they'll clear trees off the roads.

[@Bobsdecline]

Company guy if it's on the lines. If a road is blocked and primary voltage can be cleared with sticks we can then remove the tree from the road when accompanied by emergency services.

[@PedroGonzalez-hc4re]

Can you make a video on how to get into line work

[@kenbrown2808]

was looking at it on the phone line and thinking "just leave it. the phone company will be through to clear it the rest of the way in 20 years or so."

[@clatonblade2211]

you got a tree for christmas (:

[@Bobsdecline]

Had about 60 of em by the end of the week! 😬😄

[@ihavediabetestoo]

Curious why the telco is your problem?

[@Bobsdecline]

We have a mutual agreement to remove trees from their facilities if it's on ours anyhow. (Annual contract is agreed upon for compensation). When it's on communication facilities alone and not affecting our stuff, we'll still often remove it as "passersby" will repeatedly call it in. A seperate bill can be done up for those ones.

[@marklundeberg7006]

15:30 is there any worry that in this position the wire could suddenly snap at one of the poles, and then come whipping at you?

[@Bobsdecline]

It's very unlikely the wire would snap. If it did, the wire would come back a bit but not with enough force to be of any concern. It's a great question and I'll try and document this exact scenario and post it later this week. Should be fairly quick and easy to setup and demonstrate!

[@marklundeberg7006]

@@Bobsdecline cool! That will be fascinating to see. 🙂

[@chrismeehan2242]

You need a hydrolic stick saw!

[@jmi967]

Is there any rules as to working near the neutral in this case? I know it would be a fairly slim chance, but if the hot became energized and something went south down the line and energized the neutral.. I know you had the hot off but it's still treated as live right? Also, are the distances rated to the trunk or the nearest branch?

[@eDoc2020]

The neutral is tied to Earth ground at every pole so it can't become live.

[@glitter_fart]

Stay safe! comment for the algo

[@bevillmen23]

You mentioned how nowadays safety is priority, was it not like this years ago??

[@davev3557]

Dropping a smoldering log onto the Forrest floor seems like an invitation for disaster. Did you make sure there would be no possibility for a Forrest fire?

[@chalamministries]

Since it was raining and icing, would you patrol the line to see if there were any other issues before closing it back in?

[@Bobsdecline]

Yes always. I was about half a click away from the end of the line where I turned my truck around and patrolled on the way back to the switch.

[@karl7796]

Is there no ground fault protection in your substation?

[@s1dest3p]

You eliminated the hazard of the high voltage line by opening it, so why didn't you use the Milwaukee tool to cut through the tree?

[@Bobsdecline]

Our procedures require 2 persons on site for direct contact with primary lines. (Unless using a tested insulated stick)

[@Frank5]

Why is the power company doing tree maintenance work for the telephone company?

[@thomasmcguire8523]

Do you have hydraulic and insulated pole saw

[@stillnotjeff]

Nice video! I have always wondered, why do you guy work on lines while there energized? And how does potential build on high voltage lines, but not on lower voltage like 120/240? Thank you!

[@jovetj]

If it wasn't clear, the line in this video was not energized. But it must be _treated_ as if it is, because that's what one-man-working-alone procedure dictates. Working on energized lines can be preferential to disrupting power to customers where the work can still be done safely with the power on. It also takes more time to shut off power, ground lines, work, underground lines, and turn the power on. The risk of working live has to be considered against the safety benefit of interrupting service to however many customers. With things like transmission lines, it is almost never worth it to turn them off. Potential can build up on lower voltage lines, but they have to be near enough a high voltage source for long enough of a distance to really matter. Lower voltages don't create powerful enough magnetic fields to have to worry about serious induction on other low voltage lines.

[@stillnotjeff]

@@jovetj Thank you, I knew that this line in particular was not live, but most of the videos and linemen I have seen have been working on live lines. Thanks.

[@Bob.W.]

Hairy stuff. Thanks.

[@richardgil3540]

Creo que con una sierra hidraulica era mas rapido, eso ya estava sin energia

[@unwired1281]

Found the first thing wrong with one of your videos. The beeping of your voltage indicator scared little dog and she headed for her hiding place 😮‼️. 👍👊

[@swinde]

Why was it burned at the Neutral? Was current from the primary lines flowing through the tree back to neutral?

[@jovetj]

Yes.

[@t-meistertanley1022]

In ohio Toledo Edison cuts trees with help from city of Toledo Ohio division of forestry tmeistertanley from Toledo Ohio you rock Aaron

[@huron323]

У вас я так понимаю охранную зону линий не чистят от деревьев, как у нас в россии?

[@jovetj]

I think the zone is probably just smaller.

[@huron323]

@@jovetj у нас для 0,4-1кВ ширина зоны по 2 метра в каждую сторону от края опоры, для 1-20кВ - по 10 метров, для 35кВ - 15 метров. У нас их постоянно чистят от деревьев и кустов.

[@jovetj]

@@huron323 I'm sure the tree in the video was more than 2 meters away from the line ... before it fell over. 2 meters is not enough to keep tall trees from landing on nearby power lines.

[@JacobYoces]

You said you were 1 ½ hours from your office. Do you receive per diem when your that far away during a 12 hour shift? I'm not sure what Canada's laws are

[@Bobsdecline]

We do sometimes but not in this case. I have a unique position in which my home base is my home. I cover a fairly large area away from the office, that's why I'm usually alone and it takes a few extra minutes for help at times. I'll get a small per diem only if I stay in a hotel for the most part... Or at least meals covered if I cross over into another district.

[@coreybabcock2023]

Technically what the company don't see cant hurt but the communication lines shouldn't be your responsibility anyways

[@rupe53]

he's mentioned before that they try to help out because the poles are shared... and possibly owned by the power company.

[@jani140]

Couldn't you just call the local fire dpt for technical support? I mean their duty is to deal with such kind of situations. At least in germany it is.

[@ronblack7870]

whatever happened to that high voltage rated power pole saw you had? did you have to return it?

[@rupe53]

he did mention it, but I figure it falls into the same category as a chain saw so needs a second man on-site for safety. For some reason, the Sawzall is considered single-handed so not as dangerous.

[@Jambiiiii]

Y’all don’t have those insulated hydraulic pole saws?

[@Bobsdecline]

Of course 😁 but as mentioned in the video, any cutting tool that uses a chain requires two guys on site.

[@Jambiiiii]

@@Bobsdecline oh I’m sorry I skipped ahead to the tree cutting part, so I didn’t see that explanation. I’ve never even heard of a rule like that around here but it honestly makes sense especially if you’re working in pretty remote areas like you are.

[@Bobsdecline]

That's why my hackzall has seen over a thousand trees lol.

[@tinhhuynh5419]

Sao kg lấy toi kích lai huong nguoc lai

[@daleshorey9377]

No wonder it takes so long to get power back when we lose power😮

[@luka2nd]

Is this a single-phase 11kV line?

[@Bobsdecline]

7.2kV

[@luka2nd]

@@Bobsdecline thanks. It's still kind of odd from the European point of view since our MV lines always go three-phase :-) Also, greetings from Poland!

[@macdadstromboli2762]

Question: Who is responsible for this? Does your company cover the cost, or the property owner? 🤔 If it's owned by someone.

[@jovetj]

The company pays for maintaining the lines they install.

[@s07StickEmpires]

Would you be interested in reacting to videos on KZbin such as powerline faults, transformer failures, etc?

[@bugtusslealien3931]

Did you actually remove the tree from the telecom wire or just leave it?? 😂😂😂

[@Bobsdecline]

Lol went back a day or two later with another guy