An electrical lineman works in one of the nation’s most important jobs. They spend their days setting up and maintaining power lines that keep electricity flowing to homes and businesses. They also act as first responders when natural disasters cause power outages.
A lineman typically works for utility companies. They have the responsibility for creating and maintaining the lines that carry power to all corners of the nation. They are among the first to go out after a natural disaster to fix lines and restore the power needed for medical facilities, businesses and residences.
Many utilities benefit from using telematics with their crews, keeping their fleets better maintained and improving driver safety and efficiency. When it comes to the important work of electrical linemen, fleet managers for utilities have no room for error.
Public Works Fleet Management Tips
EnVue provides telematic devices that can help linemen avoid accidents while driving their vehicles, monitor engine performance, and alert them of needed maintenance and repairs. The devices can help fleet managers reduce risk for their linemen and the public.
EnVue Telematics also supports linemen as a sponsor of the annual Texas Lineman’s Rodeo that showcases the incredible skills and dedication of electrical linemen.
Job Duties For An Electrical Lineman
Most linemen spend their days working to set up power lines that carry electricity from power plants to buildings, residences and stores. They usually gain technical skills for the job by serving as an apprentice, learning the job from experienced linemen.
Typical duties for a linemen include the following, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
- Install, maintain or repair power lines
- Identify defective devices, voltage regulators, transformers and switches
- Inspect and test power lines
- String power lines between poles, towers and buildings
- Climb poles and transmission towers and use truck-mounted buckets to get to equipment
- Operate power equipment when installing and repairing poles, towers and lines
Linemen also drive work vehicles to jobs. One of the most important aspects of the job is learning and adhering to stringent safety standards and procedures.
Electrical Lineman as First Responders
One of the most important aspects of the job is to act as first responders during an emergency. While the rest of the population sits in the dark and waits for the lights to come back on, lineman are out in the field, assessing the situation and finding a way to safely repair downed lines, blown transformers and get power back to everyone.
It’s a dangerous job. Electrical lineman who work as first responders during an emergency are typically among the most experienced workers in their area. It requires all their problem-solving, analytical, troubleshooting and organizational skills to get the job done.
Even during times where an ongoing emergency is not happening, linemen work to replace aging and outdated equipment to avoid outages that can impact thousands of customers. Electrical linemen are talented, dedicated professionals who do a difficult and dangerous job that benefits society. EnVue Telematics is proud to work with utilities to provide them the innovative technology they need to do their jobs even better.
