Study of the "climbability" of wood poles by linemen

Project IRSST

Study of the "climbability" of wood poles by linemenJean Arteau / IRSST
Yves Beauchamp, Marc Thomas / École de technologie supérieure
Denis Marchand / Université du Québec à Montréal

IRSST publications Scientific publications and communications

0095-2090 : Completed

In Québec, approximately 5 000 telephone, electrical utility and construction linemen are required to climb wood poles. Products used to prolong the life of poles used in telephone and electrical distribution networks harden the wood, which may render them difficult to climb. This study demonstrated that workers do not expend additional muscular effort, suffer increased fatigue, or modify their climbing technique when climbing hardened poles. Furthermore, individual weight and organisational culture only weakly modify the perceived difficulty of the task. A four-stage classification of pole hardness was established.

IRSST publications
Beauchamp, Yves; Thomas, Marc; Arteau, Jean; Marchand, Denis
Étude sur la « grimpabilité » des poteaux de bois dans le cadre de l'entente conjointe Hydro-Québec et Bell Canada (The climbability of wooden poles : A study conducted as part of the Hydro-Québec-Bell Canada joint agreement )
Études et recherches / Rapport R-164, Montréal, IRSST, 1997, 102 pages. Free download More Info

Scientific publications and communicationsBeauchamp Y., Thomas M., Arteau J., Marchand D.

Assessment of wood utility pole climability using psychophysical and mechanical measurements
International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, vol. 5, no 1, 1999, p. 3-28.

Beauchamp Y., Thomas M., Arteau J., Marchand D.

Psychophysical measurements as an effective way of evaluating climbability of wood treated utility poles
Computers Industrial Engeeniring, vol. 33, nos 3-4, 1997, p. 513-516.

Beauchamp Y., Arteau J., Brosseau M.

Evaluations of a lineman's body belt equipped with of a fall arrest device for wooden pole climbing with spurs
International Conference on Applied Ergonomics (IACE '96) (1996, Istambul, Turquie), Book of abstracts, 1996, p. 88-92.

Beauchamp Y., Thomas M., Arteau J.

Psychophysical measurements as an effective way of evaluating climbability of wood treated utility poles
in International Conference on Computers & Industrial Engineering (20e : 1996 : Kyongju, Corée), Book of abstracts, 1996, p. 925-928.

Thomas M., Beauchamp Y., Arteau J.

Mechanical measurements of the hardness of wood treated utility poles for evaluating climbability
in International Conference on Computers & Industrial Engineering (20e : 1996 : Kyongju, Corée), Book of abstracts, 1996, p. 1051-1054.