Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Luke Johnson on June 07, 2007, 10:29:15 pm
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I don't hink enough people are talking about this issue, some day somebody will die using a fishing pole, they are made from carbon and are un insulated ( well the hamilton ones are ). I think we should have suggestions and ideas how to combat this problem. Thanks for your help
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never thought about that one!
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Fit a heat shrink wrap on the base section of your pole from an electrical supplier. Supalites are sold with an insulation section so if you buy DIY then you only have yourself to blame.
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Discussed before do a search. It s the first thing I thought about 18 months ago when developing the Featherlight.
The F16/Zensor/Reload always has come with variable non conducting sections tested to 1000 volts that can be fitted in various places on the pole to allow for different heights. Not just the base section.
The states, where the electrocution fogures come from only has two uninsulated mains overhead wires. We have the third earth wire always insulated. I havent heard of any wfp electocution cases in the UK using wfp since it started 10 years ago. We use insulated overhead wires. Most are now underground.
Dont use ANY pole in a thunderstorm :o
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I can understand about being concerned about getting yourself frazzled to a crisp, but it's pretty unlikely to ever happen.
Aluminium poles will also get you fried and quite possibly fibreglass ones will too, most of the time the pole is wet anyway, so even an insulated one is no guarantee either.
But if you are working off a ladder you are still at risk, your ladder is always left extended as you move around the upstairs of a building.
Every now and then a freak accident will occur, but window cleaner being crisped aren't going to happen very often...probably more chance of being struck by lightning ;D
Ian
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So does the maver pole come alredy insulated from Hamiltons Jeff or Jinky?
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A local lad lost his life bacasue of electrocution from power lines, it's a serious matter, and you won't be off work jus for a few days, you'll be dead. People are increasinlgy wiring their buildings and out buildings illegally. Scotish Power say that they have to treat all power cables as live, even if the are coated. The coating can wear down and get torn off, it is a real hazard not one to shy away from, so no jokes please
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So does the maver pole come alredy insulated from Hamiltons Jeff or Jinky?
would it matter with a steady stream of water running down the pole ?? ?? ?
from what i understand it wouldnt
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the water runs outside, I am looking into using anti electrocution gloves for the job, they are very hard to get hold of though
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You say "how to combat this problem", it's not a problem it's a potential hazard like everything else in life, you do a risk assessment, in this case you see overhead power cables, you dont go near them with your pole.
This country is getting too much of a nanny state with totally OTT H & S issues
You're not the type that agreed with kids being banned from playing conkers coz it's dangerous are you ;D
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You say "how to combat this problem", it's not a problem it's a potential hazard like everything else in life, you do a risk assessment, in this case you see overhead power cables, you dont go near them with your pole.
This country is getting too much of a nanny state with totally OTT H & S issues
You're not the type that agreed with kids being banned from playing conkers coz it's dangerous are you ;D
Have to agree with John here. If you're using ladders, it's your responsibility to make sure the ladder is properly sited and safe. If you fall because the ladder slips away at the foot, or twists around at the top, you've only yourself to blame.
Same with a pole - always make sure it's safe to use it first.
Cheers,
Ian
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Where can i buy that material to shrink round my fishing pole please.
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We have some in stock.
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Alex i will order some on monday,how do i shrink it to my poles please.
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Hot-air gun, the type used for paint stripping.
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Alex, this isnt a post aimed at knocking the "shrink wrap "
BUT
would it actually work, as you will have water running down the pole
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would you need to heat strink every section, if you use it at different heights
and what about the sections that fit inside each other, would they still fit with
the heat shrink on.
as a guy said earlier risk assessment and basically common sense when using the pole
from my fishing days, you only do the bit you hold, thus the rubber might insulate, thats the idea i think
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In my opinion, no pole is really safe if hit by lightening or if it hits high voltage power lines. Because of the use of water in our work, there is very often dampness on a pole. If working in bad weather, the pole is usually very wet. In these circumstances electricity would be conducted regardless of the base material of the pole. We have always insulated the base section of the Super-Lite which would insulate to 10,000 volts with the above proviso though.
I personally work with uninsulated carbon fibre poles (telescopic and modular). I always do a risk assessment on each property and note all overhead power lines. I NEVER work in a thunderstorm.
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these fishing poles seem to have a lot of no nos are there enough good reasons to use one i myself am looking to buy a pole but want to buy a "proper" pole
not something that is going to be a bodge job
Tom
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these fishing poles seem to have a lot of no nos are there enough good reasons to use one i myself am looking to buy a pole but want to buy a "proper" pole
not something that is going to be a bodge job
Tom
Its only a bodge job if you yourself make it a bodge job, there are quite a few on here who use these poles, myself included, and are quite happy to do so, if you want to pay upwards of £700 for a pole good for you, just because it's a cheap and cheerful way to get good height/low weight, no need to try to rubbish it
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I had a narrow escape using The Unger alloy pole. My village is cursed with overhead power lines, some as low as 10 ft. I was cleaning in light drizzle one day when I touched one. Luckily, I was wearing rubber gloves. The contact made a sharp crack, and burned a hole in my angle adapter. These lines have been up for over 40 years, I guess the insulation has eroded in places.
Take care, Dai
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Blimey Dai that was close. How do you spot a power line apart from the obvious ones on pylons? I have quite often touched lines that have luckily turned out to be telephone lines I'm always contacting them whilst gutter cleaning. Surely any domestic power line would be illegal?
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Surely any domestic power line would be illegal?
The older villages in North wales have loads of them. The electric come from a pole outside, each house having it's own line.
All new builds have underground supplies, It's the older houses that are the danger.
Dai