Thank you so much for this @AW Services I really don’t know anything about this kind of stuff so this info is invaluableI took today off and tried to get some specific information on types of poles and network voltages within a domestic residential setting to hopefully add some transparent context to a new safety video I'm making which may assist new starters entering the trade.
I spoke with representatives from the National Grid and the energy networks association who were easily contactable and open to questions but unfortunately were unable to give me specific information due to a huge degree of liability and also types of cable management on a nationwide scale.
They were both sticking to their Look Out, Look Up! Campaign Toolkit 2018 which is in short a common sense approach and the basic narrative of stay away from every and all power lines.
I explained in detail to them how we use telescopic water fed poles, gutter vacuums & many chemical application methods all due to the health and safety directive of not working at height and mitigating the use of ladders
They both agreed that our revised methods still don't put us in a safer working capacity and that they were unable to clarify what types of domestic Grid connection were more lethal than others
Below are some images from the roads where most of my domestic customers live and the 3 phase high voltage uninsulated twisted conductors in close proximity to the homes which can be extremely dangerous when using a water fed pole or gutter vacuum, one gust of wind or lapse in concentration and you're toast
I agree that the connections to our homes needs better regulations and revised forms of additional insulation.
I myself am a qualified electromechanical engineer and I've spent years working around 3 phase and high currents however not everyone knows the dangers and education is key.
Here are a few useful resources that may better help you in mitigating electrocution, injury and death whilst going about your rounds
Overhead power lines - Electrical safety
This information sheet gives lots of practical guidance on how to avoid danger when working near overhead power lines. It is aimed at those working in agriculture, but many of the principles described are applicable to other work activities.www.hse.gov.uk
Hi AW. I’ve got this sitting right next to a few rows of houses I clean. I do them trad so it’s ok but there are a few fascia jobs to do down there. It’s approx 10 meters from the houses.I took today off and tried to get some specific information on types of poles and network voltages within a domestic residential setting to hopefully add some transparent context to a new safety video I'm making which may assist new starters entering the trade.
I spoke with representatives from the National Grid and the energy networks association who were easily contactable and open to questions but unfortunately were unable to give me specific information due to a huge degree of liability and also types of cable management on a nationwide scale.
They were both sticking to their Look Out, Look Up! Campaign Toolkit 2018 which is in short a common sense approach and the basic narrative of stay away from every and all power lines.
I explained in detail to them how we use telescopic water fed poles, gutter vacuums & many chemical application methods all due to the health and safety directive of not working at height and mitigating the use of ladders
They both agreed that our revised methods still don't put us in a safer working capacity and that they were unable to clarify what types of domestic Grid connection were more lethal than others
Below are some images from the roads where most of my domestic customers live and the 3 phase high voltage uninsulated twisted conductors in close proximity to the homes which can be extremely dangerous when using a water fed pole or gutter vacuum, one gust of wind or lapse in concentration and you're toast
I agree that the connections to our homes needs better regulations and revised forms of additional insulation.
I myself am a qualified electromechanical engineer and I've spent years working around 3 phase and high currents however not everyone knows the dangers and education is key.
Here are a few useful resources that may better help you in mitigating electrocution, injury and death whilst going about your rounds
Overhead power lines - Electrical safety
This information sheet gives lots of practical guidance on how to avoid danger when working near overhead power lines. It is aimed at those working in agriculture, but many of the principles described are applicable to other work activities.
Personally, I would extend my wfp in the opposite direction from those power lines. I very much doubt your pole would reach them, but it may be close enough for a current to jump from the cable to the pole. I would also only clean them in dry weather.
Providing you're not shooting constant streams of water while holding a soaking wet pole with damp hands you'll be okay.
I've felt shocks with gutter vac poles but put it down to static build up as it was very sandy waste getting sucked up. There were cables running in the gutters but they were from the roof aerial. If they have a signal booster is there a little current in those cables?
makes me wonder what are the electric bills like for folk who have continual leaking electric onto their roof ? .One thing i do know it doesnt kill grass growing in the gutter praps it even encourages it?
Looking up will let you see ware the wires are and you can then keep away from them it won’t jump more than a meter or so
I was surprised to learn it can jump up to 5 meters depending on voltage and weather conditions!
In our training with the fire service it was said up to a meter on the lower stuff and a bit more of the very high metal pylons . Personally have never seen it happen though
Most are around 400,000 volts they crackle as they create 'corona discharge' which is often because of moisture in the air. Rain drops on the lines or early morning dew
