KIUC Linemen All Geared Up - Kauai Island Utility Cooperative

By Shelley Paik
What the Well-Dressed
KIUC Lineman is Wearing
Each day, KIUC’s construction crews work in close proximity to live wires, either overhead or underground. The hazards are
many. To help protect our crews, they use specialized equipment. Here is a brief description of some of the equipment they use
to keep them safe. We hope that when you see our crews on the side of the road, you will slow down and be aware of your role
in keeping them safe!
Safety Glasses—Nonmetallic, one­piece frame with side panels for
added protection. Sunglasses are a necessity against hazardous sun glare,
particularly when the lineman works on energized lines.
Rubber Glove Protectors—Leather gloves with a Velcro tightening
strap and attached orange vinyl cuff worn over insulated rubber gloves to
reduce the chance of puncture or tearing from sharp objects.
Safety Harness—A full body harness is used for working in an elevated
bucket. the harness attaches to the bucket­truck boom with a lanyard.
Lanyard—A nylon strap with locking snap hooks connects the lineman’s
safety harness to the truck boom to prevent falling.
Hinged Hot Stick—The insulated, dielectric­tested fiberglass tool is used
to move or adjust live electrical equipment.
Hard Hat—Made from hard plastic with an inner web suspension system, it
has universal slots to attach accessories such as earmuffs. The extended brim
protects the face from falling debris. It is factory­tested for dielectric strength
and discarded before dieletric breakdown.
Arm Protector Sleeves—Dieletric­tested, seamless, vulcanized molded
rubber protects the wearer’s arms from unintentional contact with an energized
power source.
Shirt—Long­sleeved, that is arc rated and stitching with nonmetallic buttons. It
requires industrial wash with no soap or chlorine bleach to maintain its flameretardant
finish.
Rubber Gloves—Dielectric­tested, rubber liner insulated gloves provide
electrical protection. Glove thickness dictates the level of voltage line personnel
may work. Ratings: Class I—10,000 volts, Class II—20,000 volts, Class III—30,000
volts and Class IV—40,000 volts.
Journeyman Lineman Joshua Block shows his safety equipment
when doing hotline work in the bucket.
Getting the Pole Job Done
Even more special equipment
is necessary if the job includes
climbing electrical poles. A
leather/synthetic belt holds tools
in a leather pouch and a strap
that adjusts to different pole
sizes. Climbers that have padded
tops and attach to the legs with
straps have triangular points that
jab into a pole as the lineman
climbs (see cover photo).
OCTOBER 2011 27