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Violations and Inspections

QRS, a leader in utility support, has identified several universal potential concerns regarding pole inventory practices, maintenance inspection assessments, and new construction activities specifically on the subject of safety and grounding violations.

In most cases, these violations concerns were identified by special audits requested by the clients either following a previous pole inventory/audit/attachment inspection, or after completion of construction.

Here are some of our findings:

• Improper ground device.
  Most poles have a ground rod, or underground wiring between the pole and grounding device. These rods are, or should be, below ground.
  
  During our examination, it was discovered many poles were simply “butt-wrapped” and did not have an attached grounding device.“Butt-wrapping” does not meet NESC requirements, and it only takes a few minutes to dig and verify.
  
  
• Equipment not grounded.
  Transformers, along with other pole equipment, must be grounded to a ground rod or other acceptable system, not just bonded to the pole ground.
  
  
• No grounding.
  Some poles and ground rods were neither connected nor broken. Checking the ground rod and verifying connections should be done during inspections.
  
  
• Safety Concern.
  Some pad-mounted transformers, J-boxes, etc. were grounded and/or not inspected. The contractor failed to have the utility personnel open the units and verify grounding. Many violations were near population-dense areas.
  
  
• Various Concerns.
  Other problems that are not as prevalent but should still be addressed are pole riser bracket spacing (8 feet gap requirement), and pad mounted transformers housing rodents or being used as hiding places by children.

Click on images for larger views

CONCLUSION

Of major concern is the complacency of observation and inspection practices of all parties involved. Inspection tasks became so repetitive and habit-forming, resulting in incomplete and erroneous findings. Utility personnel followed up on a contractor’s activities through general observations, but failed to perform verification activities.
Safety is the primary concern. 

Careful, objective inspections, whether by inspectors or utility personnel following up on inspection or construction activities are key to safety and the quality and accuracy of records.

Information on other critical aspects of pole inventory is available at www.qrssupport.com/pole.htm.
For additional information and pictures, which are available upon request, please contact:

Quality Resource & Services
P.O. Box 14781
9508 E. 1st (99206) shipping
Spokane Valley, WA  99214

Dave Ingram or John Guerry: 
(509) 927-8527

E-mail:  dave@qrssupport.com