How should hot sticks be treated before each use?

Before each use, hot sticks should be inspected to ensure their safety and functionality. Inspecting hot sticks involves checking for any visible damage, wear, or contamination that could compromise their effectiveness as tools for working with live electrical circuits. Proper inspection helps to identify issues such as cracks, electrical testing failures, or physical deformities that could pose risks during operations.

The practice of inspection is critical because hot sticks are designed to enable linemen to handle live wires from a safe distance, and any fault in the equipment could lead to hazardous situations, including electric shocks or equipment failure. Regular inspection helps maintain the integrity and reliability of the tools, thereby enhancing worker safety on the job site.

While recharging, recalibrating, and storing are important for the maintenance of specific tools and equipment in the electrical field, they do not specifically address the immediate safety checks that must be performed on hot sticks prior to their use in live-line work. Thus, inspection before use is the essential first step in ensuring that hot sticks are safe and fit for purpose.