This site offered significant obstacles to overcome:

• The access road to the site access is extremely steep with a 2-meter-wide pinch point.
• The descent to the work site was a gradient of between 30 and 45 degrees.
• Moving materials required in difficult conditions.
• Ensuring a safe working environment.

Initially in the planning of this project we established what plant would be suitable to complete the project in a safe and efficient manner. We adjusted a 2.5 ton tracked dumper to allow it to safely carry the two 12-meter replacement power poles to be carried to the site access point. We also selected the Euromach 5000 spider excavator to allow access through the pinch point on the site access road; it can work safely on the steep slope gradient and also has the reach and lifting power required for the pole installation.

Once the materials and plant had safely been moved to the site access point at the top of the bank, the spider excavator “walked” safely down the incline in a controlled manner. Using a rope access team, we lowered the replacement poles to the site using a combination of Tirfor winches and the spider excavator. Once in position of the damaged poles, the large wind-blown tree was removed and the new poles installed, working in partnership with Western Power’s poling team.