Rules

Awards

Awards will be presented Saturday evening at the Awards Banquet and will be given to:

1. Journeymen: First, second, third, fourth and fifth place overall
2. Journeymen: First, second, third place for each event
3. Apprentice: First, second, third, fourth and fifth place overall
4. Apprentice: First, second, third place for each event
   
   

Event Schedule and Score Sheet Procedure

1. In the registration packet, each Team and Apprentice will find their event schedule order. Each Team and Apprentice must bring the event schedule with them for the judge to verify everyone is following their pre-assigned order by initialing the schedule. Only the Master Judge can authorize a competitor to complete an event out of sequence, for example, to avoid backlogs.
   
   After event completion, the judge must sign the scoring sheet. The Chief Judge or designee will check the scoring before distributing the scoring sheet with copy one being given to the runner to take to master scoring, copy two staying with the Chief Judge, and copy three going to the competitor. It is the competitor’s responsibility to ensure his/her competition number, name, score and time are recorded accurately, and that he/she leaves the event grounds with only one scores sheet.
   
   

Competitor Requirements

Lineman Teams and Apprentices

1. A Journeyman team will consist of three participants: At least one team member must be a Journeymen Lineman. If an Apprentice is on a team and a climber they must have at least three years’ experience in an apprenticeship program. As a three-person team you may rotate your team members anyway you wish as long as it adheres to your company’s safe work policies. One alternate per team is allowed. The alternate may only replace a team member if one of the team members cannot continue for any reason and the alternate must finish out the day once they have substituted into the event.
2. Apprentice must not have more than four years in an apprenticeship program.
   
   

Mandatory Full Fall Arrest

1. The Florida Lineman Competition requires the mandatory use of personal fall protection for all Journeyman team and Apprentice climbing events. Fall protection systems shall be supplied by the competitor and be used in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications along with the use of a secondary work positioning strap or lanyard while transitioning around attachments on the pole. While using the secondary positioning strap or lanyard the competitor shall not get into a position to allow for a free fall greater than 0.6 meters (2 feet). While repositioning and/or transferring competitor’s secondary must be placed over a fixed object (hardware and/or material fixed to the pole). Manufactures recommended usage of each fall protection system listed on the next page.

1. Photos provided
   1. Buckingham Bucksqueeze/Supersqueeze Inner Web or Rope Strap
   2. DBI Sala Fall Protection
   3. Jelco Fall Protection
   4. Bashlin Patriot Fall Protection
      
      
      

General Rules

1. All competitors will start each event tooled up and one arm’s length from the pole (fall arrest will not be allowed to be attached to pole prior to the start of their time) unless otherwise stated in the event specs (ex: Hurtman Rescue tools are laid out and time starts at the judge’s call).
2. No power and/or battery operated tools will be allowed in the competition.
3. Video and/or still pictures WILL NOT be allowed or reviewed to determine an argument of a deduction.
4. The competition is a family event and is considered a workplace environment. Therefore all rules of personal professional conduct is expected and to be adhered to at all times.
   
   

Mean and Drop Dead Times

1. Mean Times are posted for each individual event and vary from event to event. The “Mean Time” is the posted time in which the task must be completed in not to receive a 2 point deduction.
2. Drop Dead Times are posted for each individual event and vary event to event. The “Drop Dead Time” is the posted time in which the judge will stop the competitor and request them to return the event station back to its original state. Once the competitor goes beyond the Drop Dead Time they will be stopped and receive a 10 point deduction in addition to the two point deduction for exceeding the Mean Time.
   
   

Event Scheduling Policy

1. ALL Teams/Apprentices must be signed into their first event by 8:30 am or a 2 point deduction will be applied to your first event (early start schedules may be assigned if needed due to excessive numbers of competitors). This will be strictly enforced!
2. Each Team/Apprentice must complete the events in the order they are listed on their schedule. The schedule must be signed and a completion time must be filled in by the Chief Judge of that particular event.
3. If a Team/Apprentice arrives at a given event and has not completed all prior events in the order listed, the judge will, reroute them back to the event(s) not completed in proper order.
4. A Team’s/Apprentice’s schedule can only be changed by a Master Judge should an event become congested while other events are not fully occupied. The Master Judge must complete the appropriate blanks by the event that the Team/Apprentice is being routed FROM.
5. After completing the event the Team/Apprentice was rerouted to, the Team/Apprentice is to resume following the original event schedule.
   
   

Guidelines for Weather or Other Unforeseen Happenings

If at any time throughout the event day an issue arises in which the event and/or individual events cannot be completed and has to be canceled by the competition committee due to weather, time restraints, etc. any incomplete event will not count towards the overall scoring. The competitors that were able to complete any canceled event will be scored appropriately and ranked by whomever finished the event and receive the awards according to that ranking.

Fairness and Consistency

Each judge is encouraged to be competitor-friendly but must also be shown due respect by each competitor. If a judgment call could be considered questionable, the team/apprentice will be given the benefit of the doubt. The competition event is intended to be a fun time for all and should not become stressful to either the participants or the judges.

Judging Irregularities

Should the Chief Judge observe inconsistencies in judging, he or she shall advise the Event Judge on the inconsistencies. If the discrepancies continue, the Event Judge shall be replaced with an alternate judge.

Infractions

Infractions listed here are intended as guidelines and judging should not be limited to this list. Infractions observed, but not identified here, should be noted and explained in the scoring sheet. See individual events for specific event rules or exceptions.

2-Point Deductions

1. Failure to properly wear OSHA-approved P.P.E., loss or dropping P.P.E. (personal protective equipment) I.e. hard hat, gloves, safety glasses, long-sleeved shirt, etc.
2. Not wearing long-sleeved shirt, sleeves completely down and/or buttoned.
3. Any competitor not wearing approved work gloves when rubber gloves are not required.
4. Dropping tools or material from the pole or hand line.
5. Improper cover-up (cover not extending past reach, slip, or fall zone).
6. Improper use of cover, hand tools, hot sticks, and/or equipment (improper installation or improper care).
7. Improper rigging as defined by the APPA Safety Manual (refer to event details for rigging specs).
8. Cut-outs/Slips (loss of elevation, loss of control).
9. Failure to wear ALL P.P.E. while inside the event area (hardhat, work gloves, safety glasses, gaff guards, etc.).
10. Hot-dogging. (Defined as: being out of control and or excessive uncontrolled speed. The climber must maintain one gaff in the pole at all times.)
11. Climber on any pole without hand line, except for the last climber coming down.
12. Performing work on the pole without a hand line secured to the pole.
13. Twisted hand line operation.
14. Hand line operation while climber is ascending or descending the pole while beneath the block or load.
15. Ascending or descending the pole under a freely suspended load (any load above the bottom of climber’s feet).
16. Railroading tools or material down hand line (letting tools or material slide down hand line).
17. Carrying material on belt or in nut bag when climbing other than hand tools, hand line, and gloves (unless otherwise noted on individual event).
18. ABSOLUTELY NO material, tools, or equipment in the competitors mouth.
19. Fall arrest system is not used in accordance with manufacture’s specifications.
20. Improper adjustment of fall restraint while ascending, descending, or in working position.
21. Ascending or descending on the pole while other Lineman is ascending or descending other than repositioning (repositioning is a maximum of two steps).
22. Performing work on the pole while other Lineman is ascending or descending other than repositioning (repositioning is a maximum of two steps).
23. Working on the ground under a load and/or under an ascending or descending climber (competitor shall not be directly under load including hand line operation).
24. Performing work with your fall arrest system out of adjustment in a manner which you could fall greater than 2 feet. (This includes, but is not limited to, handing off tools, moving conductors, moving cover, moving hand line.)
25. Exposed blade on skinning knife (must be folded or properly sheathed).
26. Stepping or standing on material attached to the pole that is not designed to support a worker.
27. Stepping or standing on the tarp with unprotected gaffs.
28. Incidental contact with energized covered conductor or uncovered neutral other than with rubber gloves.
29. Exceeding minimum approach for the voltage class on uncovered conductor. (Minimum approach distance is calculated from the fingertips of the rubber gloves and/or closest part of the climber’s body.)
30. Over-reaching minimum approach markers on sticks and tools and/or improperly marked minimum approach distance on sticks or tools.
31. Any coaching from anyone, alternate included from outside the event ropes (communication between the 3 person team only, this includes the apprentices).
32. Exceeding the mean time.
33. Failure to perform an event on schedule unless approved by Master Judge.
34. Poor housekeeping (example: material or tools off the tarp and the groundman doesn’t attempt to correct in a reasonable amount of time or off the tarp after time is called).
35. Shotgun stick and handline use: Nothing is allowed to be hung from material, tools, and/or hardware.

10-Point Deductions

1. Contact with uncovered, energized conductor.
2. Cutout/Fall to the ground or a cutout/fall in which the climbers fall arrest is activated.
3. Working opposite energized phases or conductors of different potential at the same time.
4. Loss of control of any energized conductor.
5. Hand line contact with uncovered energized conductor.
6. Deliberate misuse of live line tools and hotsticks (misuse that could cause the tool or hotstick to fail).
7. Altering of equipment or tools that could cause them to fail.
8. Cutting the Hurtman recuse belt outside of the designed cut area (if the competitor does cut a recuse belt in the wrong place their company will be responsible for the replacement of the damaged equipment).
9. Cutting the Ox Block handline. (If the competitor does cut the handline their company will be responsible for the replacement of the damaged equipment.)
10. Picking up or dropping any type of load on an energized phase by hand or without the use of a rated device or hotstick.
11. Unprofessional conduct includes foul language and/or rude behavior (showing disrespect to or at anyone including yourself, Judge, Teammate, other competitor, etc.).
12. Exceeding the Drop Dead Time.

Disqualification

1. Practicing on the competition field prior to the event day.
2. Tampering with material, tools, or equipment on the competition field (before and/or during the competition).
3. Unapproved use of alternates or changing the status of the team members during the competition (any changes MUST go through the Master Judge).
4. Excessive unprofessional conduct.
5. Violation of the FMEA Code of Conduct.

The Event Judge has the discretion to determine the following:

1. Amount of point deduction depending on severity.
2. If a tool has been illegally modified.
3. The condition of personal tools and equipment.
   
   

Appealing Judge’s Scoring

Each team or Apprentice shall have the right to appeal the scoring of the Event Judge. Appeals will be made to the Chief Judge before the team leaves the event. If the Chief Judge overrules the scoring of the Event Judge, the deduction shall be reinstated.

Further Appeals

A team or Apprentice shall have the right to appeal to the Master Judge in regard to the ruling of the Chief Judge. Should the Master Judge overturn the ruling of the Chief Judge, the team or Apprentice will not receive the point deduction. Should the Master Judge uphold the ruling of the Chief Judge, the team or Apprentice will forfeit an additional two points.