Lineman's Quick Reference Guide on Wood Safety

Lineman's Quick Reference on Wood Safety

Complete Guide on Inspection, Testing and Safety

The standard for lineman's reference guide to wood utility pole safety.

Written Especially for Professional Linemen

Easy to carry size provides a quick comprehensive guide to safety factors and conditions that may be considered while operating on and around the system's wood structures. Contains 100 full color illustrations and photos of conditions that linemen may encounter as well as safety procedures, pole inspection, testing and maintenance.

This quick reference will serve to remind you to perform all the necessary steps to stay aware of the situation at all times. This Lineman's Guide will help you identify potential hazardous situations when working on and around wood structures that are used in transmission and distribution systems. With its easy-to-carry size, this quick reference is a valuable source for every lineman's day-to-day operations, helping to identify hazards which could cause serious or fatal injuries.

Phillip Mason Ospal is a wood scientist and has been in the business for more than 30 years. Philip Opsal provides expert testimony for litigation cases, inspecting and accepting poles for utilities, conducting safety workshops, certifying and approving wood treatment, and advising utilities regarding their wood maintenance and operations programs.

Some of the areas covered in the Lineman's Guide

Wood structure and requirements for transmission poles to ensure safety and stability- How to recognize wood utility poles and members that may be prone to failure.

Compression Wood and how to identify poles with this condition, which could cause failure.

Wood species and their uses and applications- Reviews common species used including fiber-stress values and what to look for in the heartwood and sapwood.

Compression Fractures and their causes.

Wood damage caused by insects, and what to look for.

Wood structure weakening, and common causes for failure caused by knots.

Wood structure weakening caused by deviated grain and breaks in the wood.

What to look for when inspecting wood poles and structures.

Wood inspection procedures, and what to do when a potential hazardous condition is recognized.

How to recognize broken timber and structural component breaks in the wood.

Wood structure weakening caused by decay and wood rot.

How to recognize wood structure weakening caused by termites and other insect damage.

How to assess damage, and safety procedures for inspection before climbing.

Evaluating wood strength-loss through measurement and boring inspection.

How to analyze boring shavings for wood deterioration and rot.

How to read tags placed by prior pole inspections, and what they mean.

Maintenence programs and procedures for all possible situations.

© 2010 Philip Mason Opsal, All Rights reserved.