SO i have a question for all you boom pump operators out there... Here at my company we have a policy that we will not go up and over power lines because for any reason you forget you are over them or in the worst case your truck tips you are sure to get them... So my question is what do you guys do when you get to that job and thats the best way or only way to do it without system? Even if you follow the 17 foot rule... Would YOU do it?

hell NO! Because there is always the option that you could possibly hit the powerlines. And that is definitly not good, for anybody involved.

Not just NO - NEVER but HELL NO UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES EVER

when the only thing that has to work right for you to have a bad day is GRAVITY, well please re-read the above.

I would have to say to you is the reason rules are in place is someone paid the price.There are no hero's in a construction accident,or anywhere else.

I am so glad you asked this question and I applaud you for asking it. The ACPA and the CPMA both say never do it. I think it is even illegal. People die every year because they hit the power lines. None of these guys thought they were close to them. It's a ugly death. Be safe, Keep the 17' rule and never go under or over power lines.

And thanks for bringing this subject up.

I would require the contractor to have a rep from the power company there to certify the line is "not charged", and then I would have the rep climb the pole and touch it with his finger...to prove it, and make sure that the line deactivation actually did take place....if he him haws around and doesn't want to touch it, then I will tell him then I don't want to pump it....You touch it, I'll pump it!!!

the customers concept is that they called you to do the job so they play dumb while sucking on a soda pop.

Thats good, I have had to leave jobs myself, or tell them to start packing system. The reason I ask is I have seen many of pictures of boom pumps doing just that, going over power lines. Booms are great for going over many of things but I would not consider power lines one of them. Here in my area we have alot of guys that like to do things like this and other dangerous things. When they have the accident we end up paying the price by having raised insurance premiums. We have a flawless safety record (knock on wood) in our nineteen years of business. But we seem to get screwed because of all the other guys that wont take the time to think and do things right the first time because there may not be another chance. Just my opinion on a topic that frustrates me pretty bad.

The only reason I asked the question is because of the numerous pictures I have seen of people booming over lines. I would never do it myself and have refused to do it many of times. It has nothing to do with guts or anything like that because it is done all the time. It is stupid things like that that raise the insurance premiums and everything else for us concrete pumpers. You never realize the danger in what you are doing until it is too late usually, unfortunately for alot of men that was the last thing they got to realize.

What about the power lines going to the house from the pole? Does it make a diffrence that they are covered??

for one acpa says hell no. if it is the only way i tell the customers sorry no go

I was on a job and asked about the power lines going to the 1 story house. The contractor said no power line is safe to touch ever and that they were dead. About an hour later the outside light to the house turned on ?????

And to a house,hehehe.I can't believe the gaul.Public service/excel energy will drop a line for you in a heartbeat.Somebody in your office dropped the ball,or the contractor is foolish.On one of my trucks (old excel) the back widow displays this,"If you think this is a contact sport your dead wrong".Next time tell your hose man this "If I screw up your the first one to know,you'l light up like a 100 watt light bulb".