Do Electricians deal with alot of heights

Talk Electrician Forum

Help Support Talk Electrician Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
I remember going up poles with those horrible spiked crampons, before doing any work we had to then knock in long spikes to reach the centre moisture core before we could earth bond them, very frightening and hard work on the legs.

 
I remember going up poles with those horrible spiked crampons, before doing any work we had to then knock in long spikes to reach the centre moisture core before we could earth bond them, very frightening and hard work on the legs.
oh manator, you big wuss. :slap

I used to have a set of them, climbers we called them,with the wraparound belt.

done a lot of PA back then and used them for doing the horns, our team of 2 could do two or 3 as quick as the 3 man team with the ladders done one!

 
Problem that I had was most of the time I had no strength left to dig the spikes in! Very true though, when you get used to them it is faster. I have not seen anyone use them lately, so I guess they are not used as much any more.

 
probably not allowed to anymore,

I was a young and spritely teenager way back then, :D so I suppose I had bags of energy,

not so much now though. :|

plus, I dont think my knees could take it these days anyway. :(

 
I don't mind heights to much but as others have said working in unboarded lofts is different to working in boarded ones. Thats what I have been doing today rewireing a sixties house loft most of the plasterboard was down due to a flood and as it was wired in twin seemed the best time to rewire anyway as said when your crawling over the space above the stairs its quite nerving but you just get on with it to get the job done.

 
I find it damn near impossible to get onto the top tread of steps, unless there is something to grab on to, or going up in to grid ceilings. Its not the height, its poor balance!

The absolute worst thing ever is standing on a pallet lifted by forklift.

 
I find it damn near impossible to get onto the top tread of steps, unless there is something to grab on to, or going up in to grid ceilings. Its not the height, its poor balance!The absolute worst thing ever is BEING CAUGHT standing on a pallet lifted by forklift.
...or falling of it, that would most likely in my opinion be a touch worse:coat

 
When I were a lad you'd be sent up the ladder resting on a girder.. (probably part of a crane track),

Pull a bit of cable along with you as you walk along said girder/crane track..

While the gaffer shifts the ladder to the other end to meet you after the cable has been pulled across a gap of some sort!

Ah!!! those were the days..

I Only work at heights on the stuff I cant reach off the floor..

It NOT heights I am scared of..

is the falling and landing that c4rps me up!!!!!!!!!!

:C :Salute

 
I find it damn near impossible to get onto the top tread of steps, unless there is something to grab on to, or going up in to grid ceilings. Its not the height, its poor balance!The absolute worst thing ever is standing on a pallet lifted by forklift.
I've stood on a pallet while being lifted by a forktruck. Never again!!

 
I think i'll be ok as long as its fairly safe.

Anywhere i can go to practice getting used to heights ?

 
Any working at heights should be properly controlled, you will receive training, some on site through instruction and tool box talks, and some at specialist training establishments. Your employer will have the responsibility to provide you with the appropriate training.

As you can see from the above posts, some electricians working at heights still have that fear, but are confident in the protective devises used.

 
I do a side line in tv aerials. Don't do that if you are scared of heights. :)
i also do sky and aerial installs, and sometimes have to go on peoples roof tops to install, it doesnt bother me as im a rock climber and abseiler anyway :) but what i make sure on the aerial/sky installs is that i have my rock climbbing ropes and harness to hand as i wont go up roof tops without being attached to a rope or the chimney etc.

 
i also do sky and aerial installs, and sometimes have to go on peoples roof tops to install, it doesnt bother me as im a rock climber and abseiler anyway :) but what i make sure on the aerial/sky installs is that i have my rock climbbing ropes and harness to hand as i wont go up roof tops without being attached to a rope or the chimney etc.
+1

I have my harness and ropes as well, so I even if I fall it won't be far. You would be insane to do rooftop work without a harness and something to catch you if you fell.

The only bit I dislike is when doing a chimney lashing, and getting the lashing wire round the far side of the chimney can be tricky. Those victorian chimney pots are a lot bigger than they look from the ground (as are chimneys in general), and I sometimes struggle to get the lashing wire over them to go round the chimney (while standing on the ridge as high as I can reach.

Tip: My steel spring wire fish tape, can be formed into a huge loop to "lasoo" the chimney. Once that's round, you can attach the lashing wire and pull it round the chimney. Then you "just" have to reach round to put the corner pieces in.

I'm sure someone will post the link to the you tube video of the aerial riggers free climbing an insane height radio mast. That one can make even seasoned heights workers go weak at the knees just watching it.

 
i also do sky and aerial installs, and sometimes have to go on peoples roof tops to install, it doesnt bother me as im a rock climber and abseiler anyway :) but what i make sure on the aerial/sky installs is that i have my rock climbbing ropes and harness to hand as i wont go up roof tops without being attached to a rope or the chimney etc.
same here - rope around top of roof ladder, shunt on harness attached to rope

and i dont like roofs much. especially the steep ones

 
I used to be so bad with heights I couldn't even go up the secure ladder to our own loft. But I've gradually concurred it enough for most spark height work. But my ladder has the wide feet for steadiness and is extendible. I won't go any higher than the top rung at my waist/knee area.

Before going it alone I had massive issues with the company I worked for where their ladders were really not suitable for the jobs and most of them would literally jump from the top platform into the loft with confidence being their only safety. They'd take the **** out of me, but I straight refused.

The company even had us all do a working at height course so the company could MCS register. Such bullsh*t, pardon my French

 
Top