19.11.13

A Linesman Tension Load Tool

By Bonnie Contreras


People who work with power cables need to know their tools will not let them down. The linesman tension load tool is one of the tools these people rely on. Like all their other tools these workers need to be sure they are light, easy to carry but still tough and reliable.

A Linesman is a highly skilled job. Having the skill to repair and work with the high voltage of our main power lines is hard enough but being able to scale poles and masts like a monkey, is also a major part of the job. Working at heights like this, they have to know that they can rely on all their equipment at all times.

Suspending themselves from poles or climbing up pylons to work, means that these intrepid men and women need everything they need on their person. So the equipment needs to be small and light so that it can be attached to a belt or secured in pockets. The tools also should be rugged and reliable, so that the worker can concentrate on getting the job done, without worrying something will break or let them down.

This job consists of general maintenance and repair which sounds easy but it can be necessary to work in very hazardous conditions. These people travel the county repairing damaged or weak cables, but a lot of the weaknesses only show up in bad weather. This means that they work in some of the worst situations.

Hanging from a pole like a lumberjack in windy conditions or climbing around steel masts when the temperature is below freezing, is not most peoples idea of fun. These brave people take it all in their stride and never let their country down. To them it is just another day at the office, all part of the job.

These people also have to travel long distances around the country to get to the damaged areas of cable. Some can be very remote and hard to reach, up mountains and through rough terrain. This means that it can be a very lonely life with rare visits home to see the family. It certainly takes a special kind of person to do this job and we all owe them our comfort and warmth in the depth of winter.

In the depth of winter when frost and snow brings down power cables leaving whole communities without power, in the dark often without heating. Sometimes cables are torn from their supports by high winds and hang perilously over roads and rivers. Then there are times when really low temperatures put extra strain on the cables and they brake or develop faults. These are the times when these brave people are out in force putting the country back on its feet.

These are the times when a linesman tension load tool and the other equipment is needed and it has to have proved itself effective. Using this to bridge the fault while the cable is replaced or parts repaired makes it possible to do the job smoothly. So this is when the equipment really has to be reliable, strong and tough.




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