What really happens when you lose your electricity? Whose job is it to go out and fix the problem, no matter the time of day or the conditions outside? It is the job of a lineman. What is a lineman?
Well, linemen are mostly responsible for building power lines. However, they do so much more than that; they operate equipment, drive the trucks, and they are their own electricians and craftsmen. Not one single part of their job is pre-assembled. Every single nut and bolt is put together by the linemen themselves.
Another component that makes this career path tough is the near impossible conditions they must work in. If there is no lighting in the sky, linemen are out working. Extreme heat and cold are commonplace. Rain is no excuse to go home either. These conditions are intense, and they make working difficult and extremely dangerous.
The devotion needed to be a lineman is extraordinary. The constant danger is a major concern. On average, linemen work with secondary voltage ranging from 240 to 480 volts. Along with the secondary voltage, primary voltage ranges from 7,200 to 34,500 volts. All of these voltages are deadly.
Not only are linemen in danger while working, they are called away from family and friends whenever and wherever they are needed. When electricity goes out and people are dependent on linemen to get everything up and running, the job is done by dedicated and brave men and women whom selflessly keep our lives comfortable, no matter the conditions they are working in.
