3000 PoleShark

The 3000 PoleShark is a fall arrest and positioning device designed to be used only by professional lineman on wooden utility poles. If used and maintained according to the instructions on this site, the 3000 PoleShark will prevent a long fall, thereby dramatically reducing the risk of serious injury should the climber lose his footing.

When properly using the PoleShark, a climber simply cannot fall beyond the length of his lanyard.

Although the natural hazards of the job - rain and ice, fatigue, poor lighting and pole conditions - are often unavoidable, their consequences can be minimized. If a climber kicks out, the PoleShark will automatically hold him in place to prevent his falling to the ground. Lacerations and splinters caused by grabbing the pole to arrest a fall are substantially reduced.

To better understand how to safely use your PoleShark please click on any of the links below;

Windows Media Player download

WARNING: READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY AND COMPLETELY BEFORE USING THE POLESHARK. 1. To climb with the PoleShark, the climber first positions the unit around the pole.
2. The PoleShark should be placed at a comfortable height (usually just above waist level).
3. The lanyard is threaded through the handles of the PoleShark.
4. Attach the lanyard to the D-Rings on the climber's work belt.
5. Adjust the lanyard to the shortest possible length.
5. After visually inspecting the equipment for proper attachment, the climber should take one step back from the pole to ensure that the taut lanyard squeezes the handles and digs the gaff wheels more deeply into the pole. The climber in now ready to climb. WARNING: CONVENTIONAL CLIMBING AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT MUST BE WORN BY THE CLIMBER, AND CONVENTIONAL POLE STRAP TAKEN WITH HIM TO HELP MANEUVER THE POLESHARK AROUND UNDERBUILDS.

Adjustments

Step 1

To lengthen, feed lanyard in this direction.

Step 2

To shorten, feed lanyard in this direction.

Climbing with the PoleShark 1. Ascent Once the PoleShark has been positioned on the pole, the lanyard threaded through the handles, the length of the lanyard properly adjusted, and a visual check made of the connection of the snap hooks to the D-Rings, the climber is ready to climb. His hands should be placed on the PoleShark hand grips and spurs set into the base of the pole. As he begins his ascent, he simply pulls the PoleShark handles outwards so as to release the tension on the gaff wheels, and slide the unit up the pole. He allows the handles to close around the pole as he ascends and then repeat this releasing action as he continues to climb.
2. Descent The same technique is used in descending as in ascending, with the PoleShark being moved down the pole during the descent.
3. Working Because the gaff wheels dig into the pole to hold the climber in place, he is free to remove his hands from the PoleShark.
4. Repositioning The reversible gaff wheels allow complete 360 degree repositioning of the PoleShark because they will rotate around the pole in either direction. The climber rotates around the pole by shifting his weight to the left or right. On large diameter poles it may be necessary for the climber to assist the rotation of the PoleShark with his hands.

The Underbuild

When approaching an underbuild, the climber should initiate the following steps.

1. Loop a conventional pole strap above the underbuild and secure to "D" ring.

2. Release the PoleShark's lanyard from one of the belt's "D" rings and withdraw the lanyard through the handles of the PoleShark. Once the PoleShark is free of the lanyard, remove the PoleShark from the pole and reposition it above the underbuild.

3. When the PoleShark has been repositioned above the underbuild, thread the lanyard through the handles of the PoleShark.

WARNING: BEFORE UNFASTENING THE POLE STRAP, LEAN BACK ON THE LANYARD TO TEST ITS CLOSING ACTION ON THE HANDLES AND VISUALLY INSPECT ALL ATTACHMENTS.

4. Refasten the free snap hook to the second D-Ring.

5. Unfasten the conventional pole strap and unloop it from above the underbuild.

6. Resume climbing.