Electricity Today T&D Magazine

What powerline technicians must know to stay safe

BY JIM HUTTER, Capital Safety

Most of modern life is powered by electrical energy, which is why transmission tower work continues to be an integral—yet extremely dangerous—part of the power distribution industry. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that fall arrest or work positioning equipment must be used when working at elevated locations more than four feet (1.2 meters) above the ground on poles, towers, or similar structures if other fall protection has not been provided. There is an exception for “a qualified employee” climbing or changing location on poles,...

Latex versus Natural Rubber – What is the difference?

All Raw rubber comes from the rubber tree. It is then processed to become a latex for water-based dipping or dried down to a slab for use in extrusion or solvent dipping operations.

Hydrophilic additives in Latex

For latex to be usable it must undergo several processes to enable it to form a product. Of the many process involved, key is the addition of soaps to maintain emulsion (electrostatic) stability. Soaps have a water-loving head and an air-loving tail; the head orients itself in the direction of the water source and...