Cooperative Living March/April 2018 - 8

MemberFYI | by Anne Prince, Contributing Writer
THE POWER BEHIND YOUR POWER: Thank a lineman for keeping your lights on
A
s April arrives, it brings with it the
showers that produce spring
flowers. It also heralds the
beginning of a potentially stormy season
that can inherently include power outages.
While your co-op strives to provide reliable
electricity, there are times when Mother
Nature has other plans. Most of us can ride
out a storm from the comfort and
convenience of our homes. However, there
is a group of professionals that springs
into action when the weather takes a turn
for the worst - co-op lineworkers.
One of the most dangerous jobs
Braving stormy weather and other
challenging conditions, lineworkers often
must climb 40 or more feet in the air,
carrying heaving equipment to restore
power. Listed as one of the 10 most
dangerous jobs in the U.S., lineworkers
must perform detailed tasks next to highvoltage
power lines.
To help keep them safe, lineworkers
wear specialized protective clothing and
equipment at all times when on the job.
This includes special fire-resistant clothing
that will self-extinguish, limiting potential
injuries from burns and sparks. Insulated
and rubber gloves are worn in tandem to
protect them from electrical shock. While
the gear performs a critical function, it
also adds additional weight and bulk,
making the job more complex.
In addition to the highly visible tasks
lineworkers perform, their job today goes
far beyond climbing to the top of a pole to
repair a wire. They are also information
experts that can pinpoint an outage from
miles away and restore power remotely.
Line crews use their laptops and cellphones
to map outages, take pictures of the work
they have done and troubleshoot
problems. Lineworkers are responsible for
keeping miles and miles of lines working,
in order to bring power to your home and
community 24/7, regardless of the weather,
holidays or personal considerations.
While some of the tools that lineworkers
use have changed over the years, namely
the use of technology, the
dedication to the job has
not. Being a lineworker is not a glamourous
profession. At its essence, it is inherently
dangerous, requiring them to work near
high-voltage lines in the worst of conditions,
at any times of the day or night. During
hurricanes, wildfires or storms, crews
often work around the clock to restore
power. While April is known for spring
showers, there is also a day set aside to
" thank a lineworker. "
Lineworker Appreciation Day is April 9.
So during the month of April, if you see
a lineworker, please pause to say thank
you to the power behind your power.
Let them know you appreciate the hard
work they do to keep the lights on,
regardless of the conditions. n
Anne Prince writes on consumer and cooperative
affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative
Association, the Arlington, Virginia-based service
arm of the nation's 900-plus consumer-owned,
not-for-profit electric cooperatives.
6 | Cooperative Living | March-April 2018
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Cooperative Living March/April 2018

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