Live-line working for Northallerton power men

1:29pm Friday 28th November 2008

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A TEAM of electricity workers has been trained in an industry-leading technique that allows them to work on live overhead power lines.

The four workers, based in CE Electric UK’s Northallerton depot, have been trained in a special technique known as “hot glove working.”

It allows linesmen to safely work on the lines from a specially-commissioned four-wheel-drive insulated aerial lift, known as a Unimog.

By removing the need to interrupt the electricity supply whilst work takes place, the new team could save hundreds of hours power interruptions across North Yorkshire and the North East.

CE Electric UK’s hot glove manager Keith Adcock said: “Usually, when our staff work on overhead lines, they have to cut and isolate the flow of electricity running through them.

“In hot glove working, they use high-voltage insulated gloves and safety equipment from an insulated aerial lift so that they can safely work on live power lines.”

He added: “Although we can never eradicate power cuts altogether, by increasing our investment in innovative technologies and working practices like these, we can ensure that our customers are getting a first-rate service from some of the best staff in the business."”

CE Electric UK will now have nine hot glove teams working across the network from the Scottish border down to north Lincolnshire.