Washington Administrative Code › Title 296 - Labor and Industries, Department of › Chapter 296-45 - Electric power generation, transmission, and distribution › Section 296-45-905 - Appendix C-Methods of inspecting and testing wood poles-Nonmandatory

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
I.
Introduction
When employees are to perform work on a wood pole, it is
				important to determine the condition of the pole before employees climb it. The
				weight of the employee, the weight of equipment to be installed, and other
				working stresses (such as the removal or retensioning of conductors) can lead
				to the failure of a defective pole or a pole that is not designed to handle the
				additional stresses.(1) For these reasons, it is
				essential that, before an employee climbs a wood pole, the employer ascertains
				that the pole is capable of sustaining the stresses of the work. The
				determination that the pole is capable of sustaining these stresses includes an
				inspection of the condition of the pole.
Footnote(1)
If the employer finds the pole to be unsafe
						to climb or to work from, the employer must secure the pole so that it does not
						fail while an employee is on it. The employer can secure the pole by a line
						truck boom, by ropes or guys, or by lashing a new pole alongside it. If a new
						one is lashed alongside the defective pole, employees should work from the new
						one.
II.
Inspection of wood poles
A qualified electrical employee should inspect wood poles for
				the following conditions:(2)
Footnote(2)
The presence of any of these conditions is an
						indication that the pole may not be safe to climb or to work from. The employee
						performing the inspection must be qualified to make a determination as to
						whether or not it is safe to perform the work without taking additional
						precautions.
A. General
			 condition.
Buckling at the ground line or an unusual angle with respect to
				the ground may indicate that the pole has rotted or is broken.
B. Cracks.
Horizontal cracks perpendicular to the grain of the wood may
				weaken the pole. Vertical cracks, although not normally considered to be a sign
				of a defective pole, can pose a hazard to the climber, and the employee should
				keep his or her gaffs away from them while climbing.
C. Holes.
Hollow spots and woodpecker holes can reduce the strength of a
				wood pole.
D. Shell rot and
			 decay.
Rotting and decay are cutout hazards and are possible
				indications of the age and internal condition of the pole.
E. Knots.
One large knot or several smaller ones at the same height on
				the pole may be evidence of a weak point on the pole.
F. Depth of setting.
Evidence of the existence of a former ground line substantially
				above the existing ground level may be an indication that the pole is no longer
				buried to a sufficient extent.
G. Soil conditions.
Soft, wet, or loose soil around the base of the pole may
				indicate that the pole will not support any change in stress.
H. Burn marks.
Burning from transformer failures or conductor faults could
				damage the pole so that it cannot withstand changes in mechanical
				stress.