Win energy lineman killed

This happened a few miles away from place in south end of county. Took out two TV stations. No details, but the first thing I thought was: hope someone wasn't back feeding their generator that killed the man.

If anyone knows more, please post update. geo.
lineman dies

I hate to hear that. I have traveled thousands of miles to gunshows with a retired lineman in the past 15 years, and the stories he has told are frightening.

I work as a construction lineman. You definitely have to keep your head in the game. My wife used to ask me, did you think about me today? I would say, no. I was thinking about 12000 volts in my hand. There is so much that can go wrong. If any safety procedures are over looked, well not to many times do you get a second chance

I worked for a company that in every paycheck gave a brochure with dead lineman stories. Despite what everyone thinks about grounding it is dangerous. Very bad to feed you panel from a genny. Transfer switch saves lives. Back feeds get stepped up in high voltage transformers. Your 110v back feed becomes 13,200v.

News reported tonight corner said death was caused by high voltage electrocution. That's a no brainer, high voltage line was on the ground.

Often a cause of injury or death to first responders when approaching an incident.
Have to ALWAYS check: Fire, Wire, Gas, Glass,Up, Down, All Around, Blood, Bugs and Thugs.

I have a feeling if I back fed a line (dead) with at least one more customer on it, my generator would have an instant heart attack and turn inside out. What you think? My breakers would blow from overload instantly.

Saddens me. I have so much respect for these guys. Usually, they are pretty good guys too. Nearly always guys. I have yet to see a woman doing the really dangerous tough stuff these very tough men do. When ever they are out, I always watch them. Their knowledge, their skill, their daring amazes me. Iron workers are high on my list too.

Neighbor George, I'm sure you're well aware of electrical safety and all the issues regarding home generator safety but in over 15 years here on this forum I've found there are soooooooooooo many who haven't a clue but think they know it all and they are the ones who scare me the most lol

Keep warm up there this winter

John T

JohnT,
Don't know exactly when, but I plan to catch some Florida sunshine soon. My one sister lives there all the time. Other sister usually comes and goes. She likes to spend Christmas in Indiana with family, then returns to Florida. BIL would like to live there all winter.

Very sad to hear tragic news like this. These guys are always at risk.

My neighbor was a lineman for Niagara-Mohawk (Albany NY) for 30 years. There is always something about these guys, they project a certain "aura", at least all that I have known. I've been on the same job sites as my neighbor, and they had bocce ball in the compartment of their trucks, so sure during down time, why not? I mean, when the .... hits the fan, who wants to trade places with them ?

People will always complain, they're goofing off, but with all they have to contend with, what is the big deal. Power companies rates and delivery charges, at least someone should be well compensated for highly dangerous work. When they upgraded the transmission lines running through our land, there were a dozen bucket trucks, a drill rig and what have you all working in soaking rain. These guys were building a bypass on 30,000 volt lines, adjacent to 115V lines ! If you have ever seen a switch thrown at a substation with 115V, it will learn ya some respect for the power in those lines. Because we have these lines through our place, my parents showed me a photo of what was left of a kid who climbed one of these towers. The rubber soles of his sneakers were what remained. In noticed that while walking under the lowest point of those lines that a static spark can be created between my fingers and trigger guard on my rifle, needless to say I avoid that area when its hot and humid, as the lines sag.

I would agree on ironworkers too, I've done plenty of structural steel in my career, and lots of ornamental work in high rise buildings, curtain wall, windows, railings, etc. I'm still managing small crews now, prison work, but still, that high work is something. Photo is of a job I did in '03 in NYC, 65 Ironworkers just on curtainwall alone, and that is my platform hanging off the building.

Falcon Steel crane?

Holy chamolie!

I was in downtown Chicago when they were putting up a crane for an addition on the Chicago Merc. When they swung the counter weight under the crane and the iron worker stepped a good three feet from the structural upright to the board platform secured to the weight I got butterflies. No harness, nothing.

When I was at SIU I spent a couple of afternoons sitting and watching the iron workers assemble the iron for an addition on the physical plant. Not great heights but it was still cool to watch. Always thrilled to see the cedar tree on the last beam with the flag and all the signatures on the beam.

I would never back feed. Transfer switch is easy to to put in and price is not that bad. I don't have to worry about back.

The ones I hate. Are the experts that tell me. I have used the dryer plug trick for years. Never had a problem. I try to explain to them. That when things go wrong. You will have many problems.

Sad to hear that. Like Kabat said generally you don't get a second chance. I know 2 individuals that are both missing body parts but are still alive. They were both lucky.
My FIL used to work for the power company as a mechanic in their substations. He and 2 other workers were working on(or should I say in) a capacitor. They were working and they heard a noise outside. One of them stuck their head out and the electronic disconnects were engaging. They had followed the safety procedures and had locked the manual disconnects out. Someone at the main headquarters had energized them not knowing why they were disconnected. Could have been 3 dead very quick.
I know enough about electricity to do simple things but, I also have enough respect for it to know when to have an electrician do the job.

Steven

In August we had a tree take down the pole and tranfomer, along with the lines. Want to see what second cutting orchard grass and high voltage look like? You could smell it a bit away.

When I had the electrician install the generator cable, he tnstalled this plate. You can't flip the generator switch without flipping off the main power switch allowing the plate to slide up allowing the generator switch to be flipped on. This is the power company (PGE) requirement. Also very simple.

My cousin bought one of these plates and installed it himself. He said the little plate cost him $150. Worth every bit of it if you ask me..

They said on the local news that there was generator back feed.

You don't use this plate if you have a transfer switch panel ?

Um there are many female linemen . They often get write ups in the IBEW journal.

That is why we used DED's is some circumstances.

Saying that a proper transfer switch is not required ?

Here is one of the neatest solutions. No need to extend wires, use junction boxes etc. Probably more breaker spaces that the usually over full panel being replaced.http://download.schneider-electric.com/files?p_Reference=S0130HO1401EPR1&p_EnDocType=Brochure&p_File_Id=4561097491&p_File_Name=S0130HO1401EPR1%20-%20Gen%20Panel%20HR.pdf

If true so sad my first thought was correct.