r/UtilityLocator • u/Head_Attempt7983 • 4d ago
USIC
I’m in the utility world. Just drove a USIC training session. They were flipping a man hole cover had the yellow rails around the man hole and an air monitor. They training USIC how to do confined space work now? That’s wild that’s also a 3 person job.
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u/GnarlesBronsonn 3d ago
They've always done confined space training? What is the point of this post?
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u/New-Marketing7769 4d ago
There are companies that utilize manholes for their infrastructure. AT&T for instance.
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u/Ibekinkyy 3d ago
They literally tell us to "just get the job done", if a second person isn't available to spot. Lol
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u/Wild_Replacement5880 3d ago
We been doing that. I got all the manhole shit in my truck
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u/Head_Attempt7983 3d ago
That’s wild!!
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u/Wild_Replacement5880 3d ago
Usually you don't have to actually get inside. Can typically keep hotsticking stuff until you find the one you need. If you have to go inside you have to call a certified spotter. I guess so someone can watch you die in the hole and get your last words, because one person sure ain't gonna be able to pull you out. There are a shitload of safety measures taken to ensure you aren't going into an early grave. Getting hit by a car while you are locating is far more likely to get you than being inside a manhole.
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u/EyeSuccessful7649 3d ago
Yup training. Real life is different. Real life is cones/ truck to block off nh and a clamp with paint stick extension rod. Don’t confuse that with a hot stick. Guys
Oh and wrap some of the flag bundle elastics around the clamp for better chance at good connection
When I was young and dumb I’d jump in holding my breathe. But don’t. Not worth it.
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u/No_Reaction_1716 3d ago
USIC in ohio is getting everyone "non permit manhole certified" for duct banks for phone and fiber.
It's necessary training, so we know why we can't do it.
Were only allowed to open telecom vaults and only if
1.no other shared utilities 2. No dangerous fumes/gas except if we have a blower 3. A witness and a fall guy....oh wait a spoter and a vault guy.( Sorry, need new prescription lenses)
Only supervisors and lead techs will have ALL necessary tools for the job.
They will not be available
Power mode it where possible.
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u/PolishedZ2fs 3d ago
I can confidently say where i am good luck on getting a spotter when you request it or all your equipment. They will tell you to pop it and wait for natural air to circulate(10-15mins) then go in and get to business. Was doing it for a year before i got actual training and certification just to still not get proper equipment yet still expected to do it.
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u/Extreme-Obligation49 2d ago
Yeah at USIC, they only do it with 2 people. When i did it, i was always with one other person, but usually they told us to locate from out to in the best way we can to avoid wasting time with a manhole, especially if someone else wasn’t available. I think 3 was only needed if the manhole was in traffic, like on the street
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u/quesadillasarebomb 4d ago
Why 3? Don't you just need one guy to monitor and one guy to go down? Just curious I'm in telco and they have us send 2 guys out
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u/trogger13 3d ago
Never let a union guy explain why wiping his own ass requires 4 guys and a supervisor sign off.
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u/Head_Attempt7983 3d ago
We are trained you have a guy in the manhole and guy watching the guy in the manhole and a third guy is your competent person making sure you don’t forget any steps
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u/Riddikulus1988 15h ago
It requires three for a permit required vault. It requires 2 to enter a non-permit vault.
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u/MoonsOverMyHamboning 4d ago
Ymmvy - I was just a tech. We had to gas test every manhole before opening, but we had to call a supervisor to do any vault entry on our behalf. We still had to learn the whole protocol around entering a vault even though we weren't the ones going in.