Ralph, it is understandable for you to think that way after hearing me talk about utility here. You know, climbing with spurs, one handing, steelcores around power, one tie in. One handing is the only thing out of the four that is prohibited (but always done) B.C. is a huge place, many thousands of miles of transmission and distribution lines. The regs. about climbing are made by the Workers Compensation Board of B.C., the regs. about climbing around power are by them as well. It is the utility, B.C. Hydro that authorizes people to work on thier system. You have to have a trade certificate issued by the Province and be authorized by Hydro. B.C. Hydro can revoke or authorize your ticket. This training is six weeks in class and field over two years and 1200 hours of supervised work in close proximety to powerlines. I haven't heard of other places were there is this much training to work around power. In spite of these pratices you deem to be unsafe no one has been killed doing utility here for many years, unlike some states. This unfortunate man who died was a groundsman, not a climber. The Compensation rules are on the net, not hard to find, I think worksafe bc should do it. In regards to safety vs. production, most utility work here is contract, low bid gets it. That probably tells you what you need to know, I don't agree with it myself. At the end of the day, Hydro, like any big corparation will circle the wagons and cover their own ass if something bad happens. There are a lot of inspections and trade retesting happens every two years, they really make an effort to have everyone work safe. But when low bid takes it....people are pushed, of course. Hope this helps you.
