2/2/2015

It takes a special dedication to be an electric lineman

   When the weather turns miserable as it does so often during a Mississippi winter, I find myself thinking of linemen.
    Their “office” is thousands of square miles of mostly rural landscape. On a sunny spring day, I envy their being outdoors all day. But not today; outside my window, it’s a gloomy and blustery mid-January day with a cold rain threatening.
    An electric power association is made up of far more than the wires and poles and substations you can see. It takes a small army of workers to keep your electric power on 24/7. You may not see them but rest assured, with literally tens of thousands of miles of power line winding through our service areas, our crews are out there every day working despite the frigid (or sweltering) weather conditions.
    Electric service is so dependable and affordable in this country that it’s easy to take it for granted. In some parts of the world, people have spotty electric service for only a few hours a day, if at all.
    We have highly trained and dedicated linemen to thank for the high quality of electric service we enjoy—in addition to the engineers, right-of-way workers, technicians and other employees who play vital roles as well.
    But for now I want to focus on linemen. Although National Lineman Appreciation Day is not until April 18, I think they deserve our gratitude every month, especially when severe weather makes their tough job so much tougher.
    The job of the linemen demands a certain get-it-done attitude. They can’t wait until the sun comes out to start rebuilding lines after a tornado; they know recovery from any natural disaster can’t really begin until the power lines are rebuilt and electric service is restored.
    Electric power association linemen take a special pride in emergency power restoration work. They are playing a key role in helping storm victims, and if that doesn’t lead to job satisfaction, I don’t know what does.
   Storm work also fosters teamwork among electric power association linemen throughout the state (and the nation, for that matter). When an electric power association needs help to restore power, others lend crews to help. In time, this favor will be returned; electric power associations collectively serve about 85 percent of Mississippi’s landscape, so one or more is likely to suffer damage from every major storm system that enters the state.
    Our linemen know not only how to build, repair and maintain power lines, but they know how to prevent accidents and save lives. When working around electricity, there’s no wiggle room for safety. Linemen have to learn and practice safety rules and regulations covering virtually every move they make while out on the lines—and driving to job sites.
   They look out for each other’s safety on the job, which bonds them in a way unique to linemen. Their top priority is returning home safely at the end of the day.
   Linemen’s responsibilities include the safety of members and the public too. Many of our linemen and safety coordinators visit schools to teach children the basic rules of electrical safety around power lines.
    Next time you pass a line crew working alongside the road, give ‘em a wave of thanks. And please slow down to help keep them safe.

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