The purpose of the event is for each Lineman to follow the guidelines exactly, climbing safely and professionally.

1. Time starts when the first Lineman is standing arm's length from the pole, with the egg in the bucket and the bucket in his mouth. When the Lineman signals the Judge he is "READY", time starts when the Judge says, "GO."

2. Climb pole with egg in bucket. Only the egg is allowed in the bucket; no padding may be added.

7. Time stops when first foot hits the ground.

8. No free-fall or hot-dogging; Lineman must be in control at all times. One hook must be in the pole at all times.

2-point deductions:

Cutouts, slips, or falls

Failure to safety in at the top of the pole

Failure to retrieve the bucket at the top of the pole

Second Lineman begins to climb before the first lineman is clear of the pole

10-Point deduction

Cracked or broken egg

1 - Raw Grade A medium egg

Q: I wear false teeth. Can I take them out while participating?
A: No.

Q: A Grade A medium egg won't fit in my mouth. Can I use a smaller egg?
A: No. Only Grade A medium eggs will be used.

Q: Do we have to safety off before hanging or removing the bucket?
A: Yes, both Linemen must safety in and lean back into their belt.

Q: Do I have to wear rubber gloves during this event?
A: No, but leather gloves are required.

Q: Can I start over if my egg breaks in the bucket on the way to the pole?
A: No. Once the Lineman has chosen their egg, the egg is then the team’s responsibility.

Q: If I just drop my bucket, and it doesn’t land on the chips, will I receive a deduction?
A: No, not if you simply dropped it. No throwing or tossing of the bags is allowed.

Q: What if our egg shatters in the pole cap?
A: You must remove the pole cap (it is held in place by velcro), dump it out, and replace it. We will have a bucket truck available to clean and replace the pole cap if this happens. You will receive the 10 point deduction for the egg.

Q: What if our egg hits the ground and doesn’t break?
A: Complete your task as required.

Mean Time: 4 Minutes

Purpose: To safely clear primary voltage hazard and smoothly lower HURT-MAN to the ground.

Looking at Line and Buck pole, facing a 7200v Two bushing transformer, mannequin will be belted above the top transformer hanging bracket, hanging on the backside of the pole. The hand-line will be hanging on an eye nut on the spool end of the neutral, on the same side as the fused disconnect. An 8’ shotgun with switch attachment will be hanging in the eye of the fused cutout door.

A tool inspection will be required prior to the start of the event for both Journeymen Linemen.

1. Rescue person's tools will be hung on a simulated line truck. When the Team Leader tells the Judge they're "READY", time starts when the Judge says "GO."

2. Team member must use supplied work order and give simulated radio call for help using portable radio. Judge will act as dispatcher. (While rescuers are tooling up.)

3. Information on work order must be accurate, Example: "Emergency, man down, we need an ambulance at . . ." (give work order address), wait for the load dispatcher. Judge is to repeat back correct information, and then Team member will return to rescue effort and declare to his Team that medical help is on the way. Note: Location information will be provided the day of the Rodeo.

4. When the mannequin is on the ground and the rope is slack, the Judge will then record the Rescue Time and then inspect the knot.

5. The mean time for safely getting the mannequin on the ground is 4 minutes.

10. Electrical hazard must be cleared using shotgun and switch stick attachment.

11. Mannequin will be tied under the arms with three half hitches. Eye splice will not be part of the knot. The half hitch is the only acceptable knot.

12. A Bashlin belt #57-N will be supplied for use on the mannequin. You must cut the insert only. There will be a 10-point deduction for cutting the belt in the wrong place.

13. Headache, or an appropriate warning, must be called if the sheave is dropped off the pole. The sheave must land within the 10’ radius ring painted around the pole.

14. Your knife must be back in its sheath before letting the mannequin down only if you are letting it down alone.

15. Mannequin should be let down smoothly, without roughly coming into contact with the pole.

16. Always take a minimum of one complete wrap around cross arm, if not using hand-line sheave.

Breaking minimum safe work clearance of 2’2".

A Team member not making the emergency call, after Judge says, "GO".

Team member making emergency call, not making correct call.

Not using 3 half hitches.

Not calling out "Headache!" or appropriate warning, if sheave is dropped

Sheave not landing within the 10’ ring.

Not having knife back in sheath before letting mannequin down, if performing rescue alone.

Mannequin hitting pole excessively on the way down.

Poor Team communications.

Dropping of tools and equipment other than hand-line sheave.

Not using switch stick attachment on shotgun to open the fused cutout.

Contacting a phase with the hand-line rope, even if you are wearing rubber gloves.

Dummy not hitting the ground in a gentle, controlled manner.

Dropping mannequin.

Cutting Bashlin Belt #57-N in the wrong place.

Not removing Hi-side of fused cutout before rigging mannequin.

Incidental contact of dummy before primary is cleared.

Getting in series, from pole to ground. Lineman must jump onto pole.

Contacting a phase with the hand-line rope while anyone in contact with the rope is not wearing rubber gloves.

Dummy hitting the ground in what the Judge would consider "out of control," further injuring the victim.

Hand-line Pole Mannequin

Shotgun with switch attachment Portable radio

Work Order Load dispatcher (Judge)

Simulated line truck (where tools will be hung)

Q: If the transformer is still hot and the mannequin is in contact with the transformer and the pole, is this pole considered energized?
A: Yes.

Q: May I use a telescoping stick to open cutout?
A: No. A shotgun with fuse stick attachment will be hanging from the switch door, and the fused door must be opened with the switch stick attachment.

Q: Where is the mannequin belted?
A: Above the top hanger bracket on the transformer with the mannequin hanging opposite the transformer.

Q: Will I be required to cut the skid to complete rescue?
A: No.

Q: Does my knife have to be returned to its sheath before letting the dummy down?
A: Only if you are letting the mannequin down by yourself.

Q: Will we be able to handle the hand-line before the electrical contact has been cleared?
A: Yes, with proper safety procedures.

Q: How much time do we have to complete the rescue?
A: 4 minutes to have slack in the rope.

Q: Must rescuers wear rubber gloves?
A: Yes, if participating in the rescue, until the hazard of electrical shock has been cleared.

Q: If my hand-line rope contacts a phase and my Groundman is in holding the rope, but we are both wearing gloves, how many deductions?
A: A 2-point deduction is the minimum deduction for contacting a phase with the rope.

Q: If either of us aren’t wearing gloves, and are in contact with the rope while it hits a phase, how many deductions?
A: A 10-point deduction.

Q: If I am wearing rubber gloves while the rope hits a phase, but my Groundman is not in contact with the rope, how many deductions?
A: A 2-point deduction if he is not in contact with the rope.

Q: Can we let the dummy free fall to the ground?
A: No, he must be kept in control at all times. He may brush the pole on the way down, but if he hits the pole or ground too hard, in the Judge's opinion, you could receive a 2-point or 10-point deduction. (See Judging Guidelines on Page 16 of the handbook.)

Mean Time: 15 minutes

1. Team must use proper tools and change out one designated dead-end insulator on a single pole dead-end structure. This is a "dead and grounded" event. A cluster mount and grounds will be installed.

2. Construction: 45’ poles. 795 MCM conductor will be dead-ended on a single pole structure.

3. When the Team Leader tells the Judge they're "READY", time starts when the Judge says "GO."

4. Team must replace one of the bells on the dead-end structure.

5. Time stops when all materials are on the ground and the last Journeyman’s foot hits the ground.

MATERIALS PROVIDED: 1- Hand line 2- Nylon slings

1- Bag 1- 1 ½ ton chain hoist

1- 795 Grip 1- New bell

1- Baker board

Q: Can the first climber hang the hand-line while the second climber is ascending the pole?
A: Yes, as long as he only hangs it and it does not interfere with the second climber.

Q: Do both journeymen have to be on the baker board?
A: No, but at least one of them.

Q: Can we re-use the old insulator?
A: No, they will be color coded.

Q: Can we use 4" blocks?
A: Yes

Q: Can we use a screwdriver to pop the cotter key loose?
A: Yes

Mean time: 20 minutes

1. This is a simulated 12KV event and approved hot-sticks and materials must be used.

3. The Team will be required to cover the neutral, replace two defective insulators on crossarm and copper P ties using the proper tools and work methods, and send all materials and tools to the ground.

4. Time will stop when all equipment is on the ground, and the last Journeyman’s foot hits the ground.

2- Insulators 1- Pig tail stick

2- Clothespins 1- Arm guard

2- Rubber line hoses & hood (neutral) 1- Rubber split blanket

1- Link stick and tag line 1- Clamp stick

2- Tie sticks 2- Tie down stakes

1- Line covers 1- Shotgun

2- 42" P ties

Q: Can we climb with rubber gloves?
A: Yes, as is practiced during Lineman Rodeo competition in past events.

Q: Can we safety above the neutral before it is covered?
A: No, it must be covered before either Journeyman safeties above it, and uncovered only after both Journeymen are safe-tied below.

Q: May one Journeyman cover the neutral?
A: Yes.

Q: Can the first Journeyman hang the hand-line while the second is climbing?
A: Yes, as long as it doesn’t interfere with the second climber.

Q: Must we use rubber gloves?
A: Only if breaching the minimum clearance on the conductors.

Q: Can we hang or tie the hand-line above the neutral before it is covered?
A: Yes; as long as you do not break minimum clearance rules without PPE.

Q: Must we cover both sides of the center phase?
A: Only if you will be breaching the minimum clearance.

Q: Must we cover the phases as we are untying/tying them?
A: No. No cover will be provided for the outside phases, as you will be tagging them out.

Q: How much clearance will we have when we tag the phases out?
A: Due to space restraints, you will only have about 1’-2’. You must state to the Judge that you have adequate clearance before replacing the insulators.

Q: Can we install the split blanket around the sky pin with rubber gloves only?
A: No. The phases must also be covered.

Q: Must phases always be held down while tying and untying?
A: Yes.

Q: How many wraps must the tie make around the conductor?
A: A minimum of five wraps with a button on the end no longer than 2 inches.

Mean time: 13 minutes

1. This is a simulated 12kv event and approved hot-sticks and materials must be used.

2. Construction: 45’ pole, single phase, double dead-end. A pole-mount bracket and cut-out will be approximately 18" down from the primary dead-ends.

3. The team will be required to change out the old stirrup on load side of cutout.

4. One journeyman will climb the cutout pole while the second journeyman climbs adjacent pole and sends new stirrup down the neutral to the cutout pole.

5. Both climbing journeyman must be present to open and close gate with long stick.

6. Time will stop when all tools and materials are on the ground and the linemen are both on the ground at the cutout pole and the cutout is closed.

1- Handline

1- Shotgun

1- Long stick

1- Material bag

1- Straight line

1- Stirrup

Q: Can we climb with rubber gloves?
A: Yes, as is practiced during Lineman Rodeo competition in past events.

Q: Can we safety above the neutral?
A: No.

Q: Must we use rubber gloves?
A: Only if breaching the minimum clearance on the conductors.

Q: Can we hang or tie the hand-line above the neutral before it is covered?
A: Yes; as long as you do not break minimum clearance rules without PPE.

Q: Does the cut-out gate need to be opened before removing the load side jumper?
A: Yes.

Q: Must we send the Bathea stirrup up and down on a hand line?
A: Yes.

Q: Must each journeyman pack their own hand line up their pole?
A: Yes.

Q: Can both journeyman be climbing at the same time?
A: Yes.

Q: Can we use the hand line to send the Bathea down the neutral?
A: No.

The purpose of the event is to follow the guidelines exactly, climbing safely and professionally.

1. When the Apprentice is standing at arm's length from the pole and tells the Judge he is "READY", time starts when the Judge says, "GO."

2. Climb pole with egg in bucket. Only the egg is allowed in the bucket; no padding may be added.

3. He may climb free-style or safe-tied in, but must safety off when he reaches the top of the pole.

7. Time stops when first foot hits the ground.

8. No free-fall or hot-dogging. Apprentice must be in control at all times. One hook must be in the pole at all times.

See General Rules, Judging and Scoring guidelines (Pages 16-17 of the handbook) for other deductions.

Q: I wear false teeth. Can I take them out while participating?
A: No.

Q: A Grade A medium egg won't fit in my mouth. Can I use a smaller egg?
A: No. Only Grade A medium eggs will be used.

Q: Do I have to safety off before removing existing bucket?
A: Yes.

Q: Do I have to wear rubber gloves during this event?
A: No, but leather gloves are required.

Q: Can I start over if my egg breaks in the bucket on the way up to the pole?
A: No. Once the Apprentice has chosen their own egg, the egg is then their own responsibility.

Q: If I just drop my bucket, and it doesn’t land on the chips, will I receive deduction?
A: Not if you simply dropped it. No throwing or tossing of the bags is allowed.

Mean time: 3 minutes

This year, the Apprentice Hurt-man Rescue will be performed alone, as done in the past. There will be no CPR following the event. This is a simulated 12Kv rescue event, and rubber gloves will be required. The Apprentices equipment must be inspected and the scorebook filled out prior to the start.

1. The Apprentices tools must be off, laying a minimum of arms-distance away from the pole. Glove bags can be opened, but the gloves must be in the bag.

2. When the judge says, "Go", the Apprentice will put on his tools, ascend the pole, and rescue the mannequin using the hand-line provided.

3. Only 3 half hitches are allowed, with no part of the eye being in the knot. The rope must be snug under the armpits.

4. The rope must have a complete wrap around the crossarm.

5. Time stops when the mannequin is on the ground and there is slack in the rope.

Q: Must I wear rubber gloves?
A: Yes, at least until the mannequin has been rescued.

Q: Can I use another person to assist in the lowering of the dummy?
A: No. You must do it alone.

Q: Must I notify a dispatcher, etc., as the Journeyman Team does?
A: No, but you must tell the Judge to "Call 911" or something of that nature.

Q: How can I rig the Dummy?
A: A three half hitch is the only acceptable knot, snugged, and tucked into the Dummy’s armpits.

Q: Can I have an open knife?
A: Yes, but ALL exposed blades must be properly sheathed.

Q: Must I sheath my knife prior to letting the mannequin down?
A: Yes! Yes! Yes!!

Q: Will I be required to cut the skid?
A: No. You may unbuckle the belt. If you cut the skid, you MUST cut the inserts provided.

Q: When the mannequin is safely on the ground, will I be deducted if it lies against the pole?
A: No, not if safely and smoothly let to the ground and lays against the pole (not hits the pole).

Q: Can it touch the pole on the way down?
A: No part of the mannequin (head, hands, feet) may touch the pole on its decent. The mannequin’s skid is not considered part of his body.

Q: Do my gaff guards have to be installed on my climbers before the judge says, "Go".
A: Yes.

Q: Can I drop the hand-line sheave?
A: Yes, but you MUST yell "Headache" or a similar appropriate gesture to the personnel on the ground!

The written exam will consist of 50 questions, 2 points per question (even if one question requires several answers, such as transformer bank connections). You must give all of the required answer or answers for each test question. If you miss any part of a question, for each question, you will receive a 2-point reduction in your test score.

The test shall cover, but is not limited to, line work safety, OSHA 1910-269, grounding, First Aid, CPR, transformer connections, etc. There will be written, multiple choice, and connection questions on the exam.

You will be directed to the written exam location on the day of the Rodeo.

Again, ALL Apprentices must take their written exam as their first event of the day, immediately after opening ceremonies are concluded.

Meantime: 8 minutes

2. Construction: 45' pole, 8' cross-arm with a cut-out and hot open secondary on a 3 spool rack.

3. Apprentice must use proper tools to de-energize and re-energize the secondaries. Time will stop when the cut-out gate is closed back in and extendo stick put away.

1- Hand-line

1- Tie-down

1- Grunt bag

1- Extendo stick

1- Cat

Q: Can I leave the extendo-stick hanging in the gate, or leaning on some hardware?
A: Yes, but if it falls, there will be a 2 point deduction.

Q: Do I have to wear my secondary gloves?
A: No, leather is fine.

Mean time: 7 minutes

3. The apprentice will be required to remove the old clamp and install a new clamp on the same side of the pole.

4. Time will start with the new clamp in the grunt bag on the Judge's command and will stop when the grunt bag is back on the ground.

MATERIALS PROVIDED:

1- Hand-line

1- Grunt bag

1- New brick

1- Tie-down

1- Wrench

Q: Do I have to run my own hand-line?
A: Yes.

Q: Is there a tie-down for the hand-line?
A: Yes.

Q: If I drop the new clamp can I use the old one?
A: No. You must use the new one.

Q: Can I run the hand-line with my belt and hooks on?
A: You can have your belt on only (no hooks).

Q: What size are the nuts on the clamp?
A: 15/16

Q: Do I have to brush the wire?
A: You must simulate doing so and also let the judge know.

Mean Time: 6 minutes

2. The time will stop when the cross-arms are put together and installed on pole.

2 – 8’ cross-arms

Flat washers

Spring washers

4 – Flat braces

4 – Carriage bolts

1 – ½" through bolt

3 – 5/8" DA bolts

Q: How tall of a pole am I putting this on?
A: 5’.

Q: Must all hardware be tightened?
A: Yes, with appropriate tools.

Q: Must the DA bolts be evenly spaced out?
A: Yes.

Q: Must both ends of the cross-arms be evenly spaced?
A: Yes, within 1" to 2".