Electricity Today T&D Magazine

Many occupations pose risks to workers, but few match the dangers that linemen face daily. Linemen play a critical role in maintaining and restoring the power grid, often working in extreme weather conditions, at significant heights, and around high-voltage electrical systems. Their work is essential to modern life, yet it comes with life-threatening hazards.

Statistics highlight the dangers of lineman work. The fatality rate for lineworkers is nearly four times higher than the national average for all occupations. Each year, an average of 26 linemen lose their lives due to work-related injuries. Additionally, linemen experience a non-fatal injury rate of...

1. PERSONAL FALL ARREST SYSTEMS

(A) GENERAL TEST CONDITIONS

Lifelines, lanyards, and deceleration devices should be attached to an anchorage and connected to the body-belt or body harness in the same manner as they would be when used to protect employees, except that lanyards should be tested only when connected directly to the anchorage, and not when connected to a lifeline.
The anchorage should be rigid, and should not have a deflection greater than .04 inches (1 cm) when a force of 2,250 pounds (10.01 Kn) is applied.
The frequency response of the load measuring instrumentation should be 100 Hz.
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