1. Pole Safety
Inspecting Wood Poles

2. Pole Safety
Too often wood poles fail while they are being worked on or near.
This is due to not inspecting or testing the pole (s) before working around them.
We need to do a better job of inspecting and testing of poles.

3. Pole Safety Pole Inspection Art not Science
You must take Personal Responsibility for the workplace
Begins when you approach a pole
Pole inspection --- anyone working on or around wood poles always should take the time to inspect a pole
Art not science --- inspection of wood poles is not and exact science. It requires the inspector to use all of his senses to determine if there is a potential hazard. Even if you could oversee pole production from beginning to end, you would probably miss 1 to 2% of the faults that are not allowed.
You must take personal responsibility for the workplace --- don’t rely on someone else to do or have done the inspections. Complacency can cost you your life. If other line workers have been on the pole recently, and because of that you assume it to be safe, DON’T. Although it was safe for them, they may have damaged or weakened the pole when they climbed and/or worked below the level at which you will operate. Take responsibility every time you climb.
Begins when you approach a pole --- Your inspection routine should begin as you walk up to the pole. For example…look for standing water, this could indicate rot below ground. Look for birds (especially woodpeckers) leaving the pole as you approach. Remember…start you safety evaluation routine before you climb.

4. Pole Safety Wood was a Living Material
Factors that affect its durability
How the tree grew
How was it treated
How was it stored
How it was erected
The aging and use environment
Wood was a living material

5. Pole Safety Everyone Should be a Quality Inspector
Prohibited Wood Faults
Compression wood
Compression fractures
Ring of knots too large and too close together
Compression wood is denser than normal wood … Why is it forbidden?
Compression wood is not allowed because the fibers are shorter and less stable, making it weaker.
Compression fractures cause the fiber to separate, weakening the wood.

6. Pole Safety Prohibited Wood Faults Scars within 2 feet of ground line
Too few growth rings per inch in outer diameter
Excessive twist of the grain in Poles
Excessive slope of grain in crossarms and crossbraces
A pole should have no less than six growth rings per inch in specified outer sections or its diameter for structural applications

7. Pole Safety Brands or tags tell us Species of Tree Manufacturer
Preservative used in treatment
Date of treatment
Size and class rating

8. Pole Safety Know Your Workplace Check the brand or tag
Conduct visual inspection
Sound the pole
Make an Inspection below the ground line, if indicated by sounding or visual inspection

9. Pole Safety Know Your Workplace
Make a visual inspection of the entire pole and attachments
Before you climb
As you climb
*never climb a pole if you have questions about its structural integrity

10. Pole Safety Biological Problems
Mushrooms can indicate the presence of rot

11. Pole Safety Biological Problems Carpenter Ants Termites
Buprestid Beetles

12. Pole Safety
Biological Problems
Woodpeckers

13. Inspecting Wood Poles Age is not an indication of pole condition
Simply looking at a pole brand and determining age does not constitute a inspection or test
Relatively new poles have been known to rot, while older poles maintain their integrity for years.
All poles shall be inspected and/or tested before climbing as required by OSHA and your safety manual

14. Inspecting Wood Poles
The pole has been in a static condition for a number of years.
A simple change in tension or stress could cause it to fail.
All poles should be evaluated prior to working on them or on wires attached to them.

15. General Condition The pole should be inspected for:
Buckling or unusual angles at the ground line
Cracks
Holes
Shell Rot and Decay
Knots
Depth of Setting
Soil Conditions
Burn Marks

16. General Condition Buckling: Cracks Holes
May indicate a rotted or broken pole
Cracks
Horizontal cracks across the grain can weaken the pole
Holes
Hollow spots or woodpecker holes can reduce the strength of the pole.

17. General Condition Shell Rot and Decay Knots Depth of Setting
Rotting or decay is a cutout hazard and a possible indication of the age or internal condition of the pole
Knots
One large knot or several smaller ones at the same location by be evidence of a weak point of the pole
Depth of Setting
Evidence of a former ground line may be an indication that the pole is no longer buried to sufficient depth

18. General Condition Soil Conditions Burn Marks
Soft, wet, or loose soil may not support any changes of stress on the pole
Burn Marks
Burning from transformer failures or conductor faults could damage the pole so that it cannot withstand mechanical stress changes

19. Testing of Wood Poles Acceptable Methods Hammer Test Screwdriver Test
Rocking Test
Increment Bore inspection

20. Hammer Test
Rap the pole with a hammer around the circumference of the pole from ground line to 6 feet
All hits should produce a clear sound and rebound sharply when striking good wood
Decay pockets will be indicated by a dull sound and less hammer rebound

21. Screwdriver Test
Prodding the pole as near the ground line as possible using a screwdriver or pole prod
Pockets of decay will offer reduced resistance
If substantial decay is encountered, the pole is considered unsafe

22. Rocking Test
Apply a horizontal force (usually a pike pole) to the pole and attempt to rock it back and forth perpendicular to the line
Care must be taken to avoid causing the lines to swing together
If the pole cracks during the test it is considered unsafe

23. Incremental Bore Test
Using an increment boring tool, bore 2 holes into the pole near the ground line
They should be at 90 degrees to one another
Inspect the contents for sound wood and core rot

24. The Goal
To Never have a pole go over while your working on or adjacent to it.
Always do the following
Inspect
Test
Secure if unsound

25. Pole Safety Final Inspection You are the Ultimate Inspector
Take personal Responsibility for your workplace