Tower Rigging Workshop
An "open enrollment" RTR program
Instructor: THORNE


The Tower Rigging Workshop is an intensive "open enrollment" workshop designed specifically for the following who work, or train others to work, at elevation:

  • Safety professionals
  • Tower workers
  • Working linemen
  • Linemen trainers
  • Supervisors / Foremen

Lineman from several utilities will be in attendance and sharing of ideas and techniques during this workshop is expected. This workshop teaches the principles of rigging on transmission and distribution lines beginning with easy to understand lessons on simple physics, anchor loading, mechanical advantage in the form of pulley systems and levers, fall factors and impact force and much more. Many linemen know what they believe about rigging, but not why they believe it. This in-depth workshop concentrates on the practical ART of clean and intelligent rigging with just that in mind---just what is needed when instructing others! Utility crews will find in this provocative seminar a return to the time-proven techniques of the past which today have become lost to us through an over-reliance on mechanized technology. While these seemingly thought-provoking techniques may seem revolutionary, they are merely a return to the principles used for generations before us---principles our ancestors used regularly and found essential to the tasks of daily life. Ideal for hot stick crews where rope work is common.
The Tower Rigging Workshop also covers beginning lineman work access and rescue training workshop designed for use with SUBSTATION STRUCTURES, BUCKETS & DE-ENERGIZED TRANSMISSION TOWERS. Emphasis on patient care once the patient is on the ground! Also extensive section on rescue: SELF RESCUE: 1. Descending from elevation with traveling auto-stop descender COWORKER RESCUE: 2. Lower another person from elevation using locked out traveling auto-stop descender 3. Lower another person from elevation using fixed auto-stop descender on tower 4. Lower another person from elevation using fixed auto-stop descender on ground Overview: Rescue of a) uninjured, b) ill, and c) slightly injured victims from towers and bucket trucks.


Participants in the 2002 Lineman Rigging Workshop practicing rigging and rescue techniques using life safety ropes for the first time

TRW key points:

  • Safety
  • OSHA law on rescue and climbing
  • Knotcraft for tower workers
  • Life safety rope and equipment, inspection and care
  • Two-point contact principles
  • Intermediate pulley systems (simple through complex)
  • Physics of rigging
  • Methods of climbing with fall protection:
    • Double lanyard
    • Advance-placed
    • Lead climbing
  • Electrical power transmission towers and hazards
  • Rescue options (team or solo)
  • Butt blocks and high directional blocks
  • Anchoring with intelligence on towers
  • Tracking lines and skate blocks for use in rescue
  • Methods of raising—then lowering the victim:
    • Vectoring
    • In line pulley system
    • Dynamic fixed brake appliance
  • Minimum tower rescue essentials
  • Medical considerations & patient assessment
  • Patient packaging while hanging
  • Patient extrication using litter scoop and LSP Halfback®
  • Mid span conductor rescue
  • Ground-based versus structure-based tower rescues
  • RTR Level II Certification upon successful completion
  • Much more...

"Dear Reed,
I just wanted to say thanks for another wonderful class. I am still blown away by the depth of your knowledge and expertise. Your gift, which you share and teach so well with others, saves lives. I envy you that remarkable gift. It is my sincerest hope that we can convince Tucson Electric Power to host a regional workshop here every year. I promise to do what I can from my end to make it happen."

Gayle Stadtlander
Tucson Electric Power Company

"Reed,
Just wanted to tell you again how much I enjoyed your training course. I learned a great deal that will be very useful in the future. This course is something that should be taught to every lineman in the US. Hopefully it will never have to be used but like you said it is a valuable tool that can be kept in your tool bag."

Stephen Williams
Georgia Power Company

7 Days
4-6 Students
Moderately difficult
Classroom 30%, Practicals 70%
Prerequisites: Employee of a tower company or utility.
No private.

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