Joint Use Violation Most Wanted List #6: Climbing & Working Space

While there are many issues and violations in the joint use world, there are a few we see so often we consider them problems of interest: repeat offenses to which no utility pole owner is immune. This blog is the sixth in an ongoing series detailing utility pole issues and the steps it takes to remedy them. Today, we tackle a safety issue that could result in injury to a most-valuable asset—your workers and technicians: improper climbing and working space.

NESC Regulation 236 

NESC regulation 236 states that climbing space around poles must be an unobstructed, vertical space along the side or corner of a pole. It consists of an imaginary box, 30-inches square, extending at least 40 inches above the highest communications cable or other facility and 40 inches below the lowest communications cable or other facility, but may be shifted from any side or corner to any other side or corner, as the technician ascends the pole. [1]

Any number of things can potentially obstruct this clear space, but signage attached to the pole, overgrown vegetation and improperly spaced attachments are fairly common occurrences.

This code has a bit of a history with regard to attachers and attachments, actually. While the original code was fairly broad in its interpretation of obstructions, a 2012 code change (Rule 217A) specified the definition, saying “attachments shall not obstruct the climbing space or cause a climbing hazard.”

How to avoid climbing and working space violations

As with many of the safety and utility pole maintenance issue-related problems we have detailed in this series, simply discovering and acknowledging an issue like this are the toughest parts of the battle. One great way to keep track of both the climbing and working space on poles, as well as track repairs is to employ the use of a robust joint-use inventory and management solution.

Software that gives utility pole owners a great deal of information about and control over day-to-day maintenance and the remedy of issues like this. Online, cloud-based information makes updating of pole statistics accessible to anyone in the organization. Capture and organization of attacher information, contracts and other vital communication details makes getting in touch with a company to fix a low-hanging attachment easier. Features such as the ability to put timers on common tasks makes keeping up with routine checks more efficient and traceable. The sum total of these features add up to valuable benefits: a more organized, connected view of all of your utility poles, a safer workplace for technicians and a more reliable plant.

Why fix climbing and working space issues?

Not having the proper clearance for climbing space and/or working space is not only dangerous, but also potentially expensive to correct.  Vegetation, for example, should be maintained on a regular basis to keep pole owners from having to deal with much larger jobs when years of overgrowth are at issue. Simple measurement procedures conducted during regular field inventories will help to identify attachment encroachment, giving owners a chance to remedy the situation before it becomes an issue. Most importantly however, everyone deserves a safe and productive workplace. When your office is a 40-foot pole and your desk is 20 feet in the air, simply having the space to move freely can mean the difference between a good day at work and a dangerous one. Let’s keep it clear—and safe—out there, everyone.

[1] http://www.ojua.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/Climbing-Space-TRI-FOLD.pdf