Posted by Merrill Fish on November 07, 1998 at 12:53:59:
As I sit here perusing the PW pages (rainy days must be good for something),, I've been reflecting on the number of new faces that have appeared on the page since I first started visiting here , only about a year and a half ago. I don't know anything about the level of experience of most of you, but assuming that some are younger than the average "old fart", and perhaps quite short on experience, considering that most work time these days is spent driving a desk, I will ask your indulgence in allowing me to get up on my soapbox and shoot my mouth off.
I just checked the glovebox section of The Power Wagon Page to see if anything new had been added recently, and my attention was drawn to the article on "Snatch Block Basics". I've had some amount of experience, and a couple of near disasters, in this area, over the years of building power lines, and working at other heavy construction and maintenance jobs. I have a couple of anecdotes I'd like to share with you, especially, you guys without experience, and a suggestion or two, as well.
1. We were winching a rather large power pole up a sand wash, using a two part line; the cable ran from the winch through (around the pulley of) a twenty ton rated snatch block, and back to the front of the truck where it was shackled to a rigging or pulling eye. The winch was a pto operated Braden, about 15 thousand pound rating, maybe more, with 1/2 inch steel wire cable. The snatch block was attached to the pole by a steel choker sling of 5/8 inch diameter, with a straight pull rating of approximately 30 thousand pounds. We had draped a couple of tarps over the cable to protect against cable whip in case something got loose, or broke. When the block was about 50 feet from the front of the truck, the choker parted. The block, with most of the choker attached headed for the truck at high speed. I was in what was later determined to be a reasonably safe place at the time, but that sucker got me anyway. Knocked my butt into the middle of next year, but, thanks to a high strength hard hat, only scrambled my brains for a while. (Maybe that's why I run off at the mouth so much.) It went on, past the tarps where it just folded right over them, and WIPED OUT the sheet metal part of the front of the truck, a Dodge W-500, all the way through the radiator support and radiator. We estimated that the total weight, on the fly, of the cable, block, and choker, to be about 40 or 50 pounds max.
2. A braided nylon rope, one and one half inches in diameter, and rated at between 30,000 and 40,000 pounds strength for single line work, parted under load at about 60 feet from the capstan winch we wre pulling it with. The crew was behind the truck, and nobody got dinged, but the broken end of the rope hit an older Honda Civic in a parking lot behind the truck. The car was totaled; almost bent in half.
Now, put on your imagining caps and try to visualize these incidents. The hazards were in the nature of the work we were doing, we were trained and experienced, and accepted them as part of our lifestyle. The fact that most of the people I worked with survived to enjoy some retirement, should be considered due to a good portion of fortune, along with adequate common sense and training. We had a job to do. Conversely, when you are playing in the mud, or sand, or whatever, you most likely would be able to let something sit overnight, or for a while until you could get the necessary equipment to do what needs doing, safely. We had that equipment, and still had problems occasionally.
Next, go to the glovebox section and READ the article on "Snatch Block Basics". Maybe, read it twice.
In this type of work, that of winching vehicles and/or loads, use the best equipment you can get, know its limitations and applications, and train yourself in the safe use of it. Ask questions; on this forum and others, somebody will most likely have the answer; and the only dumb question is the one that does not get asked. We'd rather have to tell, show, or go with you to retrieve your truck, than have to go with the rescue service to pick you up. Please, have fun, be careful, and hang around for a while. We enjoy your company.
M