Lineman Training: Climbing Techniques for a Beginning Student

[@8591bobby]

I've been climbing for 33 years. Of course during those years we didn't have such fall protection gear. Our form and technique is what saved our lives. Now the company I work for utilizes the Supersqueeze and the Cynch -Lok. Professionally speaking, your form is spot on. Excellent circling technique also. Nicely done.

[@abdielstephen3780]

I guess im randomly asking but does anybody know a way to log back into an Instagram account..? I stupidly lost my login password. I would appreciate any assistance you can offer me

[@augustuslanden5456]

@Abdiel Stephen instablaster :)

[@oshen-lz2ih]

It's allllllllllll about technique

[@Chief_Chavo]

This nice gentlemen thought me so much in lineSchool. What an outstanding Lineman. He is the man. The myth. The Legend

[@rodneyhutton4502]

Hi. Im a linesman from Australia and i have been in the business for 35yrs. We did all our climbing with ladders and pole chairs when i started but now we rarley break out the ladders and mainly use the EPV. But i admire you guys for doing it the hard way without ladders or the buckets. Great vid, especialy for us guys overseas. Thanks for the lesson.

[@CaptainHightop]

"Linesman" judge tennis matches, and lineman don't touch ladders.

[@normanmwai3052]

Hello am a young engineer from Kenya. I would really love to have your contact for consultation. Looking forward towards your favourable reply.

[@vicarlodagani-ur1or]

I like that.🙂🇵🇭

[@kirby62]

Great video with the thorugh and serious explanation i felt if i turned away you were gonna call me out haha nice..... thanks its been a while and needed a walkthrough and this was the best.... Thank you.

[@shopenasupply]

It's great to see the dedication and hard work that goes into providing quality education and training. The campus looks beautiful, and the programs offered seem diverse and engaging. It's inspiring to witness the impact Blue Ridge Community and Technical College has on its students' lives. Kudos to the entire team for their commitment to excellence in education.

[@caerleon87]

Brilliant video on the use of spurs.. I found this by accident but sure learnt a lot!! You are an amazing teacher, thank you for making this [From the UK]

[@bttl7299]

Did that for 15 years with the phone company. Get anxiety looking back it. Was taught by an older gentlemen just like him. Don't sleep on these guys very very knowledgable from the old school.

[@jehriko7525]

currently 16 and i am super excited to pursue this career when i'm outta high school

[@Joseph-yt8ft]

likewise man, finishing up my prerequisite classes before the pole classes

[@blueridgecommunityandtechn3944]

Devan we are happy to hear that. If you have any questions about our program please email [e-mail] and we are happy to help!

[@colbyhackett4350]

I'm headed to NorthWest Lineman College next week! Just turned 19.

[@jehriko7525]

@@colbyhackett4350 sick dude

[@SodiumInduction-hv]

@@colbyhackett4350is northwest lineman college good?

[@LTCAproductions]

Solid video. Just got accepted into line school and I’m nervous but excited to pursue a meaningful career!

[@blueridgecommunityandtechn3944]

Congratulations!

[@brianjohnson6053]

My advice is leave you feeling at home us old guys will eat you alive

[@mattyeet3826]

Very instructional and purposeful for studying!!!

[@decisnrgmail]

You sir just helped me big time on rotating around the pole more smoothly.

[@jessem4849]

Just started an apprenticeship and this is going to help a ton when i climb on Monday. Thanks for the great video!

[@salishah3258]

I like climbing and qualified in the field of Electrical but my luck not with me

[@dylanblakeslee]

How did you get into an apprenticeship ?

[@jjjuio]

Good luck I’m trying to get in myself been a trucker for a few years now and ready to do something new

[@405ruben]

Are you still in the apprenticeship?

[@jessem4849]

@@405ruben 2nd year now

[@wellcowboydan]

Gary Busey has really come a long way since his accident!

[@RandoName_0000]

HAHAHAHAHAHA

[@shadowperez]

Dude you stole my reply

[@fee8255]

Paul Stolianos Yeeeaaah bub!

[@eviloctober]

Sounds like him too

[@ryanthepianoman27]

What accidents

[@gaffergaffer6963]

Nice vedio sir and clear explanations very important is our safety while we are on the pole work

[@danielhildebrand6553]

Perfect technique. Makes it so much easier on the body

[@charlesbrown7366]

It's fun bringing a person down with your safety belt,as in pole rescue. Used to do it in the army

[@clintonmallard8447]

@phillip perkins toxic

[@coast1249]

Notice which side his secondary is placed on when not in use. When used he can use his dominant hand to connect and disconnect. I am a fan of having green strap or rope set up on buck squeeze to the left side away from tool pouch on right side. All great techniques. This was one of my go to videos prior to attending line school. Still a great review after being on an underground transmission project for about a year.

[@Tex200950]

Good explanation and good climb for an older man !!

[@stephenlawlor211]

Excellent video ! Lots of tips in here ! Thnx

[@Patrondecaricaturas408.]

Man hella excited to pursue this career planning on going to NLC next year

[@jamesleem.d.7442]

Tremendous teaching. Something tells me this guy has been up LOTS of poles.

[@Chief_Chavo]

he has.

[@sloughdog9480]

he may have been up alot of poles, but never worked for hrs on a pole, you tell by the way he cinched up the main body belt, if you did that and worked on a pole all day your hips would be killn ya, this guy is a trainer and no more than that

[@chasefrank8143]

@@sloughdog9480 haha this fella has probably spent more time pissing between bin doors than what you have in the field 🤣🤣. This fella has a great reputation around here.

[@MrAquinas1]

Did it for 31 years. Don't miss it at all. Although I kept my body belt as a keepsake. It still fits on the very last hole. Needed spinal fusion surgery after retiring.

[@Stickmantibet]

May I ask what over the years caused you to have spinal injury?

[@imprice5668]

What exactly caused the surgery? Or what part of the job causes that injury

[@MrAquinas1]

@@imprice5668 Okay, I did cut out once and fell 18 feet. We didn't have double strap systems then. We climbed around and over obstructions hand over hand. At the time I thought I was lucky to just have a broken leg, but back pain began soon after. Also, I used working off a body belt (fewer bucket trucks in the 70s) as a means of working out my midsection, stupidly. I thought leaning out more was a way of exercising my abs and obliques a lot more, which it was, but I was also grinding away the discs in my lower back without realizing it. It was my own fault. So I'm not blaming the career of lineman for heath problems if you approach it right. I did not.

[@MrAquinas1]

@@Stickmantibet See my response below.

[@Si7encer_]

@ed I’m just getting into the field and my instructors were telling me that the body belt should be placed on my hips and should kind of be on my very lower back and tailbone area. I use the lean back method to get a good gaff in the pole easily and on the contrary I have had a lot less back tension and didn’t workout my abs as much. I am gaffing with little to no effort. I don’t know if I am reading wrong or if our experiences are just different but I feel that the leaning back sort of sitting in the body belt method is great for releasing lower back tension. I would love to be corrected or receive insight from a veteran like yourself.

[@A5Ronic]

I work as a lineman here in Serbia, but we have totaly diferent equipment. Miller's belts and totaly diferent shoes for climbing (half-moon shape with spikes).

[@claypugh6409]

Good video. I work as an electrician. Good to see thought process of How lineman work.

[@abdulhakeemsoomro5880]

I am lineman experienced

[@charlesbrown7366]

Demonstrate a right or left working position. Also,,aim , lock. And drop with knee straight.

[@LasVegasFlicks]

Good Job!!

[@Medium0Rare]

Tree climbing videos brought me here. Two completely different worlds to achieve the same goal. Granted, these poles are probably a lot slicker than a tree.

[@johnbeattie5765]

Best thing I found using " Spurs " to climb with is to have customized souls ( twice the Reg. thickness ) on your boots . This will stop the feet from going numb when standing on the " Spurs " shanks after a few hours .

[@johnpowers2921]

I was taught to climb without the belt around the pole but to wait until you reach the height where you will work and then belt in. But that was many years ago

[@aparecidojosesilva1796]

Ki miuto confiavel ,fenomenal, VALEU Campo Grande MS ABRAÇOS.

[@christlikekemar2489]

Thank you so mush for this video sir loves it, learnt a lot just in this one vid

[@julioarroyo751]

This is the perfect civilian job for me I'm a 25L cable Dawg Army strong!

[@rm5608]

You know your job nice video

[@johnhouchins3156]

I retired before OSHA stepped in. We just three point climbed. (and that's if we were safe!) Lots of us just two pointed! By the time you've gotten up there, it would be time for lunch!

[@brianjohnson6053]

Laid up miles of wire on a set of hooks no belt no nothing. Your a hero when you catch the stringing trailer before they can set the next sag

[@lonniechartrand]

Wow! In all of my climbing days I never had that many straps on me! Just my hooks, belt, and strap. NOT that there is anything wrong with this new gear! Can surely see the safety benefits. But being "old school" my first thought is that with all these straps there is so much more stuff to get in my way when climbing. So where is the safety strap for the safety strap for when you have to remove all of your other straps? I suppose I should not be making light of this as this was a very informative video and nicely done, AND, thorough!!!

[@aaronalexander2543]

Yeah it's definitely more bells and whistles to worry about.

[@orion3267]

Yeah. It's not by choice. A lot of companies are requiring this now.

[@gabrielmercado7587]

OSHA requires it.

[@leastcoast5606]

I know, this is a lot harder than free climbing. I know OSHA requires it now but I retired in 2007. Climbing over a transformer looks like it would take forever with all those straps.

[@dinomirasola3169]

Great video

[@tarunplays399]

Thank you so much for your shearing this contents

[@heribertobonilla6797]

Excelencia y Excelencia y más qué Dios los bendiga siempre y familia y amigos y felicito

[@joegreersr1862]

Put a wrap around the shank of spikes then buckle the bottom strap it took me 36 years to see this in a tree care product magazine also on the internet now this stops the spikes from sliding on your foot! Joe Greer Have Saw Will Travel Grayling Michigan

[@bbtechbbtech]

Teach climbing...couple of things.....1. always wear gaff shields when putting climbers on. 2. that is a supersqueeze, not a bucksqueeze. 3. Hitting your screwdriver with a hammer is a good way to break that plastic handle (beneath the rubber)...see it dozens of times. 4. distance from pole is important..body parrallel to pole (not leaning in our out per say while climbing). 5. Since it so important, I would have mentioned to make sure the inner strap is at least touching the pole and the bigger the smile on the inner strap, the less likely you could fall.

[@andycapp8843]

JD Winty Looking forward to your video JD in that case.

[@jimmyg197]

The climbing tools sure have changed since I was climbing.... Thank God for a bucket truck the last year's I was doing that..... Very good video I want to go climb a pole now LOL NOT!!!!!

[@davidgaylord2035]

can't use a bucket truck in a back yard or a ladder midspan in the trees

[@Forbiddenknowhow]

I’m thinking about starting a career in this due to need for real income. Can someone give me the real on what I’m getting into

[@gloBrian]

@@Forbiddenknowhow Pretty much time away from family if you have one, lots of work , calls at any time, working constantly there is work everywhere. Need to be physically and most importantly, mentally fit. I’m 19 and I’m getting into this and I’m ready for it.

[@AaronWanamaker91]

So, is this for if a boom-truck with a bucket is not available? Or is this pre-training for the boom-truck?

[@SpiDermonkey2499]

Aaron Wanamaker can’t drive bucket down r.o.w lol think they have to b certified in both. Tree climber here tho just interested in “buck squeeze” for blocking down the spar

[@johnnykay8261]

Question, could one use the buck squeeze or cynch-lok equipment to climb a tall tree.

[@aaronalexander2543]

I don't think it would work good for trees, too much bark, branches, and nubs to get over.

[@patmisterioso6989]

I wish we had climbing belts like this when I was climbing!

[@Joetrout]

Yup! Att uses these now, theres really no way of falling. As soon as u cut out the belt will hold u

[@zachmckenna4857]

whats a good tip to prevent the top of your gaffs where your straps are from digging into your legs?

[@blueridgecommunityandtechn3944]

If your gaffs are causing you discomfort at the top strap there could be several reasons: First off is the height adjustment correct? It should be at least two fingers below the taper at the knee. How tight do you have the strap? Top strap should be a little loose to allow movement. The bottom strap at the boot should be as tight as possible that is comfortable. Lastly, there a multiple different pads you can buy. There are thick padded ones . Formed padded, padded Velcro etc. Hope this helps you out. Thanks for the great question.

[@SeverSTL]

calluses

[@odd-ov4gf]

Ace bandages work as well if using old "passed down" training equipment

[@Howardhandupme]

Yup adjustment is key. I use mine for hunting purposes, comfort is a requirement. Taller boots were also helpful.

[@joehmarleano3103]

Hello sir. Have a good day. I would like to ask on how to order safety belt that you are using and how much of it? Thank you for your response sir.

[@MeepMeep88]

I'm learning this so I can survive a zombie apocalypse

[@dr.thunder2632]

or the purge haha

[@dimarziogomes3150]

Great tribulation is coming

[@samm123465]

I am a lineman for the countttyyyyyy

[@Joetrout]

And u drive the main road

[@nancysmith9487]

How about rubber tire pieces in an area around pole for safety reasons...

[@Cjchass77chassagne]

What size spikes do you recommend?2 3/4, 1 1/2or1 9/16 for climbing palms

[@blueridgecommunityandtechn3944]

Hi Chris. 1 ½ inch is what we use to climb wooden Utility poles. The longer gaff lengths are for tree work because of bark thickness.

[@Cjchass77chassagne]

Blue Ridge Community and Technical College awesome thank you for the info was confused on that part haha thx again and sweet video👍

[@jitendrasahoo7905]

Can you please provide brand name of supersquiz fall protection. I want to buy.

[@SzymczykProductions]

I was there during his accident. It was bad but he is a champ!!!

[@thexfactortube1310]

What happened ?

[@sergeiivanov6245]

Hey. I'm an electrician from Russia. Why in your country are popular wooden supports for power lines?

[@conspiracyscholor7866]

Lots of trees and easy to put up.

[@johnlashbrook4384]

Because we can drill through them without suffering.

[@paulkovacic3686]

Lots of douglas for, but slowly going to steel poles

[@davidgaylord2035]

when you climb a skinny pole your heels and toes will touch

[@brianjohnson6053]

Tameracs

[@MattMorris481]

I wish they had them when is still in line work, I know I’m not the only one that has slip inch that felt like a mile.

[@BootlegFilly7]

I’m 16 and pray I can get an apprentice ship when I’m 18

[@mrjakedasnake813]

im going to be evaluated by them in late march

[@BootlegFilly7]

Great for you man.

[@ohyeahyeah1711]

BootlegFilly7 still wanna become a lineman?

[@ezekielm1574]

Oh yeah yeah I'm looking to become a lineman. Are you in the field ?

[@jehriko7525]

SAME

[@dalemeyer8207]

Thanks

[@Anonymous-vw2fd]

I’m in school for this however we don’t have piles and only time we get to climb is 2, 4 hour sessions leading into a 3 day orientation we’re if you fail you have to wait 6 month to take it and pay and you only have two try’s total. We climb 60 foot and they we have to climb all day for the three days without making one mistake. I guess what I’m asking is how do they expect me to practice and get good at something I’m not able to get reps at. How should I practice climbing without a pole?

[@Koraxus]

Very interesting. I came here looking how to climb trees.

[@FahadHussain-rc4jr]

I have an apprenticeship offer at an energy company as a linesman. Part of the interview will be assessing how i can handle heights. The thing is I’ve only tried to climb a pole like this once before and I was terrified, granted when you climbed up it it was like a ladder rather than those spikes in the shoes. Anyways I didn’t even make it to the top because I was too scared, im worried becauseI really would like to do the apprenticeship but I’m worried I might just buckle in the interview and freak out. Any advice for me or should I just not go to the interview?

[@utricularchris]

Did you go for it tho

[@PANCASARAGIHPRODUCTIONS]

Very good i like

[@liamgarrett5219]

What is the 2 types of equipment called what your using to ascend the tree? Thanks

[@blueridgecommunityandtechn3944]

Hi Liam, our Faculty are using a bucksqueeze and a secondary lanyard. That is all we use. If you would like more information about our program, please send us an email at [e-mail] We would love for you to join our EDET program!

[@aaronalexander2543]

Only thing you would use here on a tree is the lanyard. Everything else is for poles.

[@aaronjohnstone2800]

Hi Blue ridge community and technical college. Good to connect with you. I see you're a tree surgeon. I was one also. I am interested in what you do. I have a few small questions regarding tree surgeons and their struggles. I was wondering as a tree surgeon do you struggle with back pain?

[@drunkentaco16.]

Aaron Johnstone shut up g

[@billstanton8442]

how do you think the IBEW is doing?/

[@someperson2500]

Bill Stanton don’t think they do power lines, do they?

[@janetcrouch9514]

Bell South told my class of two women that we could not climb with a belt only safety on with belt when we were in place to do our work. We were told if we cut out by trainer named Turner in Columbia, SC he would pick the GD splinters out of our chest with his GD teeth. Other supervisions stood at the bottom of the pole laughing. Would have loved to have been trained by a man who was not afraid of women in the work place. I choose to cut back to frame attendant and wait for an inside advancement. Retired as an electronic tech but always admired the other woman who was new and had no choice but take the harassment.

[@Joetrout]

They only used the belt to safety on. They now use this procedure on this video. Alot easier and alot safer.

[@jegustaeau]

Those guys sound like real shitstains. Nice to imagine that these days they'd be cut loose for talk like that. I'm sorry you had to put up with it. More and more women are entering the industry, and fewer of these types of men are surviving in it. You are a part of that process.

[@user-ib2ly4vv2x]

Дякую.

[@buddiec]

20 years technician at Vz and last 2 years they started using buck squeeze. ... i still free climb to working height then belt on i also hitch hike when im tired or feel less safe on certain days

[@justwondering5540]

You forgot to tell them about the high and low side of a pole !

[@IceColdProfessional]

Enlighten us.

[@CaptainHightop]

@@IceColdProfessional If a pole is not perfectly straight up and down, one side of the pole will actually be at a negative angle. That side of the pole is called the "low" side. Dependending on the severity of the lean, climbing the low side of a pole is much harder, and much more dangerous.

[@IceColdProfessional]

@@CaptainHightop Oh my. I never thought about a hazard like that. But thanks.

[@robinkuruda5249]

Don Baus yep!!

[@user-bi2sh4jj2b]

Плохо что в России нашла гаффы только в Санкт-Петербурге через канал Alpnevashop, а так пользуюсь уже 4 года.

[@Hridhus]

I need a climber set.How can get a climber set.plz

[@osvaldorodriguez9784]

Como se llama o se piede comprar tu bandola de seguridad?

[@michaelwarrecker1445]

No se si lo encontró pero se llama Bucksqueeze y lo venden en buckinghammfg.com. Ellos mandan a todas partes del mundo.

[@nathanbelisle8398]

what type of prerequsite in education is need to apply for this type of career path

[@InformationUnavailable]

nathan belisle HS Diploma

[@nicolejones4742]

having a CDL is also a good start many employers allow a new hire groundman 6 months to get a commercial drivers license but having one prior to application in my opinion is a huge plus

[@robinkuruda5249]

nathan belisle electrical

[@oksaja4223]

Good technik

[@lukeyluke9637]

Bor Neo technique***

[@joshabernathy]

Jesus driving that klein screwdriver into the pole....

[@redingcampos8367]

how much your climbing gear

[@mattd5619]

R.i.p. to that Klein

[@dr.thunder2632]

i dont know about that lol, everybody abuses the sheeit out of theirs here

[@nancysmith9487]

Reaching out to sides, knots every climb

[@hotelaccounting4217]

I didn't know Gary Busey could climb poles!

[@woodhook]

wow, seems slow for production work but I suppose the safety factor outweighs that. I've free climbed over 150000 sticks without that gear and happy to still be in one piece

[@joaquing9351]

Try doing it in the wind

[@davidgaylord2035]

31 yrs hooking poles never used a gut strap if u've never cut out you ain't climbing

[@SeverSTL]

Looks like a lot of trouble. I'm retired and I'm still carrying splinters in my arms from cut-outs though. I obviously never heard of a ''Fall restriction device.''

[@ncurc9766]

Wow big lineman

[@duhacekfamily]

My son as an apprentice had to do a pole rescue on his journeyman trainer sadly the trainer didn’t survive

[@kellieschumaker6735]

What happened???

[@doloresbarclay4129]

05:49 03:47 12:32

[@bwonyamoses3884]

What of a concrete pole?

[@DirtyRice334]

Bwonya Moses bucket truck

[@kirby62]

Concrete spikes man!!!

[@KevinWorrell]

Mah concrete spikes are teh sharpest!

[@codymoncrief8478]

Now I want to get a phone pole just to do this

[@Chief_Chavo]

practice on a de-energized pole first and always remember safety.

[@jamesspash5561]

If I had to climb now, I think my outfit might be dry rotted, LOL However, you all know, we have never forgotten how. Like riding a bike.

[@tyronet.jackson7296]

Get new gear. I borrowed a bull rope from a so called friend. It was dry rotten. My first log snapped the line. Learned a life lesson. Have my own gear and take care of it.

[@Mominbank]

Nice im Bangladesh

[@Khamran20]

Waseem was here.

[@asifgul9621]

I need a job

[@fieldauditservices6870]

I can't say this is done badly, but I can say I would have used different verbiage. Must be nice to have someone rush and remove an obstacle so you don't have to climb around it while descending. But now I see why climbing is so discouraged these days, having to go thru all those steps just to ready oneself. No way I'm hitting 60 sticks a day doing wreckout, with all that nonsense needing to be done.

[@mikecropens5374]

Dod my first climb yesterday. Im sore

[@mikecropens5374]

I finished

[@David-jr9xs]

Great hip sockets considering the instructor is not a young pup anymore. Just from watching this video my hip sockets, knees and biceps hurt.

[@jaywillow9927]

I learned the old school way. Put the old school safety on, climb the pole, and don't fall. There WAS no bucksqueeze and I climbed many a 40, 60, and a 90 foot pole without fall arrest. On the job training cannot be beat. Lineman school is for guys who are going tho get thrown on drawn out jobs where new lines are being strung.

[@canubeleiveit]

30 degree angle

[@nancysmith9487]

Elbow length to start, distance...

[@nancysmith9487]

Spinning in belt, so no pendulum movement

[@randall2762]

Wow, they would have freaked out had they seen me climb poles 20 years ago (MANY times) with no belt at all...for quick cable TV disconnects, etc. Even climbed in sneakers more times than I can count. Pretty foolish in hindsight. Thankfully never burned a pole.

[@brianjohnson6053]

U aint burned you aint climbed

[@randall2762]

Lol, well, I guess my 8 yrs of climbing didn't count, then. Btw, you were a great replacement for Bon Scott.

[@natalymurrieta2653]

What about proper pants? Or do u even need them?

[@nickhunt811]

Gary busy?

[@millwrightdad3753]

Busey*

[@ergunevgin4023]

Selam bana lazım birtane ayakcık