Anyone who has cut out from a wood pole, or fallen due to any number of potential hazards while climbing, knows that all the experience in the world may not prevent a fall from the pole or riding it to the ground.

Due to accidents and the severity of those accidents associated with falling from poles while free-climbing, Progress Energy looked for other alternatives. The company examined several different products on the market and decided that fall protection during ascent and descent was just as important as any other part of the lineman's job on a pole. After much consideration, Progress Energy selected a wood-pole fall-protection system called the BuckSqueeze, manufactured by Buckingham Manufacturing Co. Inc. (Binghamton, New York).

Linemen Pull Together for Safety

The fall-protection device was developed by a utility after a fatal climbing accident during an ice storm in 1998. Twelve of the utility's experienced climbers were put in a room and asked to come up with something that would prevent a fatality from happening again. Guided by the principles of safety first and ease of use second, the group helped develop the BuckSqueeze.

With a culture change of this magnitude, implementation has been a roller-coaster ride. But every lineman and supervisor agrees that our work environment must be as safe as possible, and the one way to ensure safety on wood poles from the ground is by wearing a fall-protection strap.

The principle is quite simple. When a fall occurs, the risks are minimized by the strap's cinching action around the pole. When adjusted properly, the strap limits the fall to just a few inches. The bottom line is it stops a fall with minimal impact on the way a lineman does his job.

It has been hard for some to adjust to the idea of not being able to free-climb. Sometimes the most vocal opponents of wood-pole fall-protection systems are the linemen themselves. Part of this is because of their extensive training, which has resulted in a developed sense of competence and professionalism. Resistance to change in their established work practices is human nature.

The biggest advantage for Progress Energy is knowing it is doing the right thing by implementing a piece of equipment that, if used properly, will prevent another employee from free-falling from a pole.

Popularity Increases with Safety

In the near future, more utilities are likely to embrace this advanced technology to make pole climbing much safer than it is today. Now that Progress Energy is almost a year into implementation of the BuckSqueeze, the utility is finding that the more the line personnel use the device, the better climbers they become with it, and the easier the device is to use.

We have also observed first-hand that the strap not only provides fall protection on wood poles during ascent and descent, but also while climbing over obstacles. It is easy to put on and adjust both to the diameter of the pole and to the distance the worker is from the pole. The BuckSqueeze also keeps climbers in compliance with OSHA requirements.

One of the most important aspects of safety and personal fall-protection systems is properly equipping the linemen and training them on correct procedures for climbing, anchoring and utilization of the body belt or body harness. Since Progress Energy implemented the BuckSqueeze fall-protection system, we have not had any serious injuries while climbing.

Danny Bost is lead craft and technical trainer at Progress Energy's Lineman Training Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. He has worked for Progress Energy for 32 years as a lineman and trainer.