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Our testing processes meet or exceed the standards of ASTM, ANSI, OSHA, and NIST, and we test a wide range of safety equipment to ensure compliance. Learn more about the role of high-voltage hot sticks in maintaining a safe work environment.

What Is a Hot Stick?

Line technicians use hot sticks while near energized equipment and power lines to avoid making contact with or going too near to live electricity sources. High-voltage electricity sources are extremely hazardous for operators and repair technicians. Not only can direct contact be dangerous or even fatal, but the electricity can cause arc flashes: transfers of electricity through the air toward the ground, endangering people within range.

The sticks themselves are fiberglass rods at least four feet long with fixtures at the end that can press switches and manipulate parts. Technicians hold the handle of the stick to reach and maneuver parts on the other end. Because fiberglass does not conduct electricity, these tools keep workers safe from electricity. The four-foot length also ensures enough clearance to mitigate the risk of arcing and shock by keeping workers and their hands out of the arc zone.

Types of Hot Sticks

Manufacturers produce a wide range of hot sticks of different lengths, materials, and attachments to help line technicians complete repairs and maintenance on high-voltage equipment or systems. They fit into two broad categories: telescoping hot sticks and shotgun hot sticks.

Telescoping hot sticks are extendable tools. They feature several hollow tubes of successively larger diameters so they fit neatly inside each other and then extend the total length of the hot stick. Technicians can extend one, several, or all of the sections based on the distance between themselves and the surface that needs to be reached. This versatile design allows technicians to reach electrical equipment at different heights without having to use a large collection of separate tools.

Shotgun hot sticks help line technicians easily reach, remove, and install components. Rather than having separate sections that operators extend manually, shotgun hot sticks have a sliding mechanism to increase the length of the stick. Operators can attach the far end of the stick to a disconnect ring, pull the trigger at the other end, and elongate the stick. Once the stick is the right length, the operator can disengage the trigger and use the stick.

When and How to Use a Hot Stick

Operators and technicians should use a hot stick whenever working on or near live electricity. By using the sticks instead of directly touching the equipment, workers stay isolated against the risk of electrical shocks. Because the hot sticks are long, they also isolate workers by keeping them out of the arc zone. Hot sticks should be used whenever there is a risk of electric shock, blasts, and arcing; specific circumstances include: 

• Proximity with equipment or lines that have medium or high voltage levels

• When making repairs and adjustments to medium-voltage energized equipment

• Operating disconnects or cutouts of any voltage level

• When applying safety grounds for equipment at any voltage level

Technicians can use these sticks to directly manipulate cables, fuses, and other components. For example, line technicians can use a hot stick to hook terminated cable ends inside a transformer to &#;unplug&#; the cable or temporarily disconnect it. Then they can use the tool to reconnect it after completing repairs. Line technicians can also use hot sticks to position a fuse back into place after an outage.

Contact Burlington Safety Laboratory for Your Hot Stick Needs

Safety equipment is crucial for protecting people and surrounding environments. The safety equipment itself must comply with strict product quality standards to perform this duty reliably. At Burlington Safety Laboratory, we provide comprehensive, specialized testing for safety tools. Contact us today to learn more or request a quote. You can reach our team for assistance online or over the at 800-220-.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Hastings

How do I buy Hastings products?

All electric utility companies have net 30 day terms. Or, you can send a check, use VISA or Mastercard or contact Hastings.

What are your Hot Sticks "rated" for?

We do not offer or supply a working "rating". We as a manufacturer of Hot Line Tools are required to test all fiber glass tools per OSHA/ASTM F711. In essence this rule states that all newly manufactured Hot Sticks must be able to withstand 100KV (100,000 Volts) for 5 minutes.

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Does Hastings offer demonstrations of their tools?

Yes, we have (5) trailers and (4) "factory demonstrators" that travel the country showing our tool.

My hot stick will not pass the electrical test?

The OSHA in service test requires that all fiber glass tools in-service be tested once every two years. The test must be done at 75KV (or equivalent) and under wet conditions. To properly test your tools under these conditions, your hot sticks must be "clean and glossy". To accomplish this; "cleaning and waxing" of your hot sticks will probably be required to have your sticks pass any electrical test.

Hot Stick Care and Maintenance Video

Is Hastings ISO certified?

Yes, effective May , HASTINGS became ISO certified.

How do I become a Hastings distributor?

Contact Hastings and we will put you in touch with the Manufacturing Representative in your territory for you to discuss becoming a distributor.

ALERT: International Customers

For your protection, ALL wire transfers will be for further credit to "Hastings Fiber Glass Products, Inc" ONLY.

Wire transfers must be sent to one of the following bank locations ONLY:

1. Fifth Third Bank, Cincinnati, Ohio
2. Hastings City Bank, Hastings, Michigan

Where is Hastings located?

Directions from Chicago to Hastings Fiber Glass Products, Inc.

• Take I94 east to highway 131 exit.
• Turn north on 131 (right hand clover leaf exit).
• Go north approximately 27 miles to exit 61.
• This is marked as the Hastings exit. Depending on the map you may be using, the highway may be labeled as Chief Noonday road, A42, or M179.
• Go east (right) on M179 approximately 16 miles until it ends at M43. Turn left (continue east). At the second traffic light (less than a mile) turn right on Green Street. Take Green Street approximately 1/4 mile, and Hastings Fiber Glass Products will be on the right.
• Turn south (right) on cook road. Hastings Fiber Glass Products is the second business from the intersection of Green Street and Cook Road.

Directions from Detroit (I94) to Hastings Fiber Glass Products, Inc.

• Take I94 west to Helmer Road.
• Turn north on Helmer Road and follow it past the airport. You make a quick jog at the corner of the airport (on Dickman) but stay on Helmer.
• Helmer will turn into M37 at a traffic light. No turn is necessary.
• Stay northbound on 37 to Hastings.
• M37 will turn west (left) at a caution light. This street is also called Green Street.
• Stay on Green Street for approximately 1 1/2 miles. Hastings Fiber Glass Products will be on your left, next to Consumers Energy.

Directions from Lansing to Hastings Fiber Glass Products, Inc.

• Take M43 (may be labled as Saginaw Highway from the expressway) west all the way to Hastings.
• At the second traffic light, (corner of the court house) turn right (west) to stay on M43.
• Take M43 to the stoplight past Wal-Mart, and turn left on Green Street Hastings Fiber Glass Products will be 1/4 mile down Green Street on the right.

Directions from Grand Rapids to Hastings Fiber Glass Products, Inc.

• Take M37 south until it meets M43 just outside Hastings.
• Turn left M37 and M43 (east). Turn right at the next stop light (before Wal-Mart) onto Green Street Hastings Fiber Glass Products will be 1/4 mile down Green Street on the right.

Does Hastings refinish hot line tools?

No, because of the long amount of time to clean, sand, refinish, and test, we do not offer a "refinishing" service. We can route you though one of several "test and repair centers" centrally located around the country.

Hot Stick Care and Maintenance Video

How does Hastings ship their products?

We ship via UPS, FedEx, RPS, Truck Freight, and Air Freight. We ship the most economical method or per the customer's requirements.

I want to buy a hot stick; what do you recommend?

We need to know several things before we can make a recommendation:

• What will you be using your stick for?
• How long of a stick do you need?
• Do you prefer one solid, fixed length stick?
• Do you prefer a sectional style stick that snaps together?
• Do you prefer a telescopic style stick?

Contact Hastings today with answers to these questions and we will gladly recommend a model fit for your needs.

How often should our hot sticks be tested?

OSHA requires that all hot line tools be tested every 2 years (24 months).

What length of hot stick do I need for my high voltage system?

OSHA has published clear hot stick working clearances for different voltages. The clearances at present are below.

NOMINAL VOLTAGE IN
KILOVOLTS PHASE TO PHASE PHASE TO GROUND (FT-IN) PHASE TO GROUND (M) PHASE TO PHASE (FT-IN) PHASE TO PHASE (M) 0.05 to 1.0 (4) (4) (4) (4) 1.1 to 15.0 2-1 0.64 2-2 .66 15.1 to 36.0 2-4 0.72 2-7 0.77 36.1 to 46.0 2-7 0.77 2-10 0.85 46.1 to 72.5 3-0 0.90 3-6 1.05 72.6 to 121 3-2 0.95 4-3 1.29 138 to 145 3-7 1.09 4-11 1.50 161 to 169 4-0 1.22 5-8 1.71 230 to 242 5-3 1.59 7-6 2.27 345 to 362 8-6 2.59 12-6 3.80 500 to 550 11-3 3.42 18-1 5.50 765 to 800 14-11 4.53 26-0 7.91

Footnote(1) These distances take into consideration the highest switching surge an employee will be exposed to on any system with air as the insulating medium and the maximum voltages shown.

Footnote(2) The clear live-line tool distance shall equal or exceed the values for the indicated voltage ranges.

Footnote(3) See Appendix B to this section for information on how the minimum approach distances listed in the tables were derived.

Footnote(4) Avoid contact.

Individual work rules may require more clear distance.

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