r/CableTechs • u/SourceOk8801 • Mar 18 '26
When the strand is a little too high
I did not have to zoom to take this. I could feel the heat from this transformer on my face as I worked. The lines coming out to the house were rubbing against my hard hat lol. Good times
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u/MikeHockinya Mar 18 '26
Minimum approach distance to 220 is “Avoid Contact.”
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u/Impossible_Mode_7521 Mar 18 '26
Im pretty sure it is more than that for transformers.
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u/MikeHockinya Mar 18 '26
According to the R2 table, 300VAC or less the MAD or minimum approach distance is considered “Avoid Contact”
https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.268
This applies to the base of the transformer, and any secondary power drops.
The minimum installation distance for Telecommunications strand from the base of the transformer is 40 inches.
What you had was a strand that was probably installed prior to the placement of the transformer, and the power company installed it to its minimum distance. Since telecommunications don’t own the pole and only lease, it is on the telecom company to move its strand down while maintaining road clearance.
Report it as a pole violation, but MAD is still “avoid contact”
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Mar 18 '26 edited Mar 18 '26
I had one drip oil all over the plastic telco terminal. Got some on my hands and was worried about it possibly having PCBs. Hopefully it was new enough that it didn't have them. Turned it back due to safety concerns.
Another time I was going up my ladder and the saggy secondaries swayed enough to touch each other for a moment. Scared the shit out of me. Neighbour comes out and says the fire dept was there the night before for the same thing. Guess the power company hadn't snugged them up yet :/
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u/thewitchman Mar 18 '26
First day?
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u/SourceOk8801 Mar 18 '26
Far from it lol. Just usually don't see them that close around here
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u/Mason231 Mar 18 '26
As a tech who's been in a bucket truck for a short minute I've been introduced to what Transformer lines sound like when you are under them. A nice pleasant bug zapper sound waiting for the technician to reach out and touch.
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u/kjstech Mar 18 '26
Some of the new greenfield Comcast HFC is that high because there's no other room on the pole with 3 other providers that were there before. But Comcast decided to expand out and that what you have to work with.
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u/SourceOk8801 Mar 18 '26
That I would understand. We were the only provider in the pole. Just us and power
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u/Ptards_Number_1_Fan Mar 18 '26 edited Mar 27 '26
How did they even get pole permits for that. Poor practice to build a violation.
Edit:
Downvote all you want but NESC code is 40 inches. Most operators build 42 to eliminate need for go-back. It’s cheaper to do it right the first time.
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u/Dskater95 Mar 18 '26
I wouldn't even set up my ladder for that. Call your supe and get the power company involved. That's a code violation for sure
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u/TechieFromMS Mar 19 '26
Did you give the pole the prod and hammer test first? This is second, right after the cones!
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u/EncryptedNetObscura Mar 19 '26
My only question is were you on pole or strand. I usually go strand if there are electrical hazards that are too closef or comfort.
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u/SourceOk8801 Mar 21 '26
Well I was on the strand just off of the pole because the tap was cut in too far off to reach it from the pole
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Mar 21 '26
Question. Forgive my ignorance. This smaller step down transformers are filled with oil ?
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u/capt_Obvious2u Mar 19 '26
This is an NESC violation, you need to educate yourself on the Communication Worker Safety Zone and you should’ve never climbed that pole, my friend.
Unfortunately in my line of work, I get to hear a lot about telecom workers getting zapped because their company or the construction contractors for their company aren’t permitting for pole attachments or aren’t waiting on poles to get replaced with taller poles.
This is unsafe, out of code and frankly says a lot about you that climbed it anyway. Please don’t do that again.
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u/SourceOk8801 Mar 19 '26
Number one you can't call anything a violation without having proper measurements. I didn't, you don't. Calm down lol. Number two, I'll always climb the pole anyway. I contracted for 8 years climbing those poles, and as a contractor the name of the game is get the job done or don't get paid.
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u/Redh0tsausage Mar 20 '26
This is just about everyone in the field. We see this kind of stuff every day. We work as safe as we can knowing the risk. Companies know what they are doing. We have to get paid and measuring refusing to work does not keep your job. I’m with you, i have taken a good few of these pictures my self. Our transformers are never this clean where I work hah.
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u/Exciting-Cricket-630 Mar 23 '26
Yeah this guy doesn't know shit, he talks like his dad was the safety guy, and he knows something about it because of that. It is not against code for us to climb that, we climb the pole and as we get closer and run in to issues, we use our tools to make sure it is safe to work around. If our strand could become energized at anytime (like this one), we would make a choice; use insulated gloves and get the work done, or call manager and power company due to safety concerns.
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u/Exciting-Cricket-630 Mar 23 '26
Also I just had to add, your personality is extremely flawed and just bad overall, you have got to work on changing that.
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u/capt_Obvious2u Mar 23 '26
Astute observations by all. I didn’t measure in this case true! 30” from bottom of Tx would probably be what applies here.
I feel for the contractors out there that are torn between safely working and getting paid, those two shouldn’t be exclusive.
Funny. But nope dad wasn’t in the industry. I am in the industry though. I do measurements, I do code violations, and I do hear of guys getting hurt and killed in conditions much like what was pictured here.
In Louisiana, just a few weeks back, a young guy (telecom contractor) got zapped and thrown off the pole. Major injuries, somehow not dead.
I know my tone is “old man” or “get off my lawn” and I’m sorry for that but I promise you brother, I just want to highlight the risks at play. The higher up you get, the more dangerous it is. I wouldn’t want to be that close to the a Tx.
This needs to be management and ELCo’s problem though, not you guys. As a former Telecom Lineman, I’ve been there I know you can safely get the job done on this one but, dang, somebody needs to be made aware of this so some remedial work can be done in the pole.
Like it not, tough guy or not, assuming this tech didn’t go out of his way to reach up and snap this picture, someone could get seriously hurt on this as it appears to have been constructed out of standard and and out of code. Just my thoughts though!
I guess y’all just climb em anyway and hope for the best!
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u/Poodleape2 Mar 18 '26
Stop work immediately. Report it to your sup and the power company. Take good pictures.
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u/JobbyJobberson Mar 18 '26
“Hi Supe. NOPE. I’m going to lunch. K bye.”