In 1984 a small group of individuals working in the industry organized the first ever International Lineman’s Rodeo. The primary purposes of the event were to help maintain a focus on safety, to provide a forum for the public to see the technical craft skills linemen have, and to provide an opportunity for people in the trade to receive recognition for their abilities. Another purpose has always been for the participants to have fun while sharing work knowledge with others from different companies and parts of the country.

The first event was held in Manhattan, Kansas, at the Manhattan Vocational Technical School. Thirty-six competitors took part. By the 7th annual rodeo, 235 participants competed. This nearly 600% increase in participation confirmed that the event was needed and wanted by linemen and the general public. 

The number of competitors has continued to increase yearly. There were 783 journeymen and 261 apprentices representing 115 companies from nearly every state and several foreign countries competing in the 19th annual rodeo. Competitors have entered from various countries, including Canada, England, the Philippines, Jamaica, and Ireland. In addition, companies from more countries like Germany, France, Russia, and South Africa have also sent teams or representatives to investigate their possible future participation.

For a time, the rodeo struggled to find a permanent home. The rodeo grounds require many acres to house the participant tents, scoring area, testing area, over 160 event poles, plus dozens of dead-end poles and other structures. As a result, the event moved from one vacant lot to another. Finally, in 1999, the Board of Directors contracted with the National Agricultural Hall of Fame in Bonner Springs, Kansas, for a 10-year lease, and the rodeo has been there ever since.

We are extremely proud to be a part of this event. Seeing the incredible things that linemen do and connecting with the community is a fantastic experience. We hope to see you there; visit us at booth #807 and get the bonus of seeing Sixth Sense in action. 
To learn more about the International Lineman’s Rodeo, visit their website.

All of these things mentioned often cause electrical workers to become seriously injured. In addition to these constant threats, mother nature is constantly changing the environment. In some cases, these incidents can even be fatal. Recognizing the magnitude of these dangers and taking appropriate safety measures can help keep utility workers safe.

Some of the most common dangers of electrical linemen at work include: 

Inadequate safety equipment. Utility companies are required to equip their crew with appropriate PPE. Two great pieces of equipment to help keep line crews safe and seen are our Halo SL and Sixth Sense. The Halo SL helps linemen see and be seen, and our Sixth Sense is a personal voltage, current, and fall detector. 

Electrocution. Working around high voltage is dangerous. So we came out with a personal voltage, current, and fall detector. It senses what you can’t by sensing voltage and current to help workers stay safe while doing their jobs. For example, if power lines are damaged or improperly handled, they could electrocute workers. Sixth Sense detects voltage and current to help combat this problem. 

Falls from heights. Linemen perform many tasks like installs, repairs, and upgrades from high heights. Working at heights puts them at risk of sustaining injuries from fall accidents. A Sixth Sense attached to their hard hat will send an emergency fall notification via SMS. Unfortunately, accidents happen, and keeping your crew informed of these accidents can be life-saving. 

Extreme weather conditions. Some linemen like to storm chase. That is where the work is. Power linemen are often responsible for restoring power during significant storms. These crews are usually exposed to extreme weather conditions, such as heavy winds, rain, snow, ice, and flooding. 

Long hours. Utility workers often work long hours, especially during an intense storm that requires emergency power restoration services. These long and intense hours can sometimes affect the worker’s performance, which can increase the risk of injury. 

Motor vehicle accidents. When linemen crews are headed to restore power during a major storm, the driving conditions can be hazardous. 

Exposure to toxic substances. Linemen can be exposed to asbestos. Modern power lines no longer use asbestos, but when working with older lines predating the 1980s, they can expose workers to this toxic substance. 

How linemen can stay safe in the workplace. Many hazards put linemen at risk of injury or death, but there are several ways utility workers can keep themselves safe on the job. First, be aware of your surroundings. Staying aware of tools, equipment, and other workers helps eliminate potential hazards. Work in teams and maintain clear communication. Also, watch out for the safety of other crew members. Have proper utility tools and equipment. Practice patience and do not rush through a job. Practicing proper techniques and working slowly can help make sure the job is done correctly and workers are safe. Wearing the appropriate PPE. Having the right gear, especially when it comes to PPE, helps tremendously. 

Lineman safety should always be the top priority. Creating a lineman safety equipment list to help protect the workers is essential. The list must be comprehensive enough to include everything lineman workers need to stay safe. In this blog post, our goal is to help you create an effective lineman safety equipment list to increase safety in the workplace. 

Consider comfort when creating your list. Make sure your employees have access to all the PPE they need, such as: 

• Advanced illumination gear such as the Halo SL 
• Safety glasses 
• Safety gloves 
• Safety helmet such as a hard hat 
• Steel-toed boots 
• Rubber sleeves 
• Flame resistant clothing 
• Hot stick 
• Climbers 
• Climbing belt 

These PPE examples perform crucial roles in preventing injuries. It is good to involve workers in the planning to identify any gaps in your safety equipment list. Being open-minded and receptive by involving workers allows you to offer more comprehensive protection. Seeking workers’ input to build a safety equipment list that reflects their needs and meets their goals will help reduce mistakes on the job. 

Monitor workers as they perform their different tasks to try to identify things that can be easily overlooked. For example, their gloves may not fit correctly while handling specific tools, or a face shield would be more suitable for a particular job than safety glasses. Reducing the risk of distractions and ensuring PPE fits correctly and is ideal for the job is paramount in creating a safety equipment list. 

Significant factors to consider when building your list. First, make sure you and your crew have sufficient lighting. It is crucial to have enough lighting to detect potential threats and be seen when on the job. Our Halo SL offers visibility for a quarter of a mile, a 50 ft spotlight, rechargeable, cord-free, and is compatible with the standard hard hat. Sufficient lighting is a critical factor for any high-risk, low-light job. 

Another factor to consider is temperature. Uncomfortable temperatures may also affect a team’s ability to work at their best. Try to keep your crew comfortable in extreme temperatures. Consider materials for the minimum and max density for the job. 

A good safety equipment list benefits everyone. Creating an effective list helps protect your linemen crew from injuries and employers from costly and damaging issues. 

Lineman Jobs: The unsung public service heroes 

There are a good deal of professions that require workers to work in high-risk environments. But there is a profession that is frequently overlooked, and that is the work of a lineman. A lineman’s job is one of the essential jobs. Electrical linemen are the first people on the scene during and directly after a storm when the power goes out. They are often required to work with live power lines in challenging environments to have our power up and running as quickly as possible. 

Linemen work to keep the power on. This keeps us comfortable, safe, and we can enjoy our conveniences with the electricity that we all have come to rely on. Electricity is a comfort and convenience we have come to expect. Linemen work in hazardous circumstances, in extreme temperatures and weather conditions, carrying heavy gear and working with hot wires. Linemen are tasked with maintaining our energy source. It’s a huge responsibility that is often overlooked. 

We see how essential linemen are to keeping our country going and that they keep the lights on. Hospitals, emergency services, and the general public wouldn’t have the convenience of electricity for these essential workers. That is why we created the Halo SL to help these virtual workers illuminate their task at hand, see and be seen, and keep them safe so they can go home when the job is done. Our founder wanted to be on every job site when he was a kid, and the Halo SL gives him the ability to be a part of every task where a hard hat is worn. Linemen are essential workers and need essential gear. 

Safety is the top priority in any job. Linemen are maintaining power lines and working in stressful conditions. Our mission is to illuminate these people working in high-risk situations, making them safer in any environment. A couple of ways our Halo SL’s help in these low-light high-risk environments is the brake light halo, which indicates the wearer’s direction. 360-degree visibility for a quarter of a mile and the 50 ft task light. 

A top priority for linemen is safety for them and their crew and keeping our electricity on, so our ultimate mission is to help create a safer environment. We are here to illuminate the individual so they can be identified in any environment. We are making them safer in any situation. 

So please, if you see a lineman, thank them for their help. If it weren’t for them, you wouldn’t survive the storm. 

How to become a lineman

What is a lineman? 

Linemen perform essential services sometimes in dangerous conditions to connect or repair electricity to homes and businesses. A lineman is an electrician who works for utility, telecommunications, or energy companies to maintain, repair and install power lines. They can work on power lines that are strung on poles aboveground or power lines buried underground. 

What does a lineman do? 

The list of duties and responsibilities include: 

• Drive utility vehicles to work sites
• Climb poles to service power lines
• Service transmission and distribution lines from power plants to buildings
• Plan and supervise installation projects
• Install electrical equipment for power systems
• Repair aboveground and below-ground power lines
• Maintain power lines through regular inspections
• Manage apprentices and groundsmen
• Ensure job site follows government and company safety rules

How to become a lineman

Now that you know what a lineman is, their duties and responsibilities. The next question is how to become a lineman. 

• Earn a high school diploma or GED
• Get a drivers license
• Attend a trade school

Here are some of the skills you can learn in a trade school:

• Equipment repair: You can learn to fix and replace damaged or aging electrical equipment.
• Climbing: You can learn to climb poles safely.
• Tools: A trade school can also teach you how to use the tools linemen use correctly.
• Cable splicing: A trade school can also teach you to splice cables together to form longer lines or repair existing electrical networks.
• Reading voltages: You learn to use tools to read voltages in electrical systems.
• Line tension: You can learn to calculate the tension of a line before hoisting equipment to ensure a job’s safety.

Begin an apprenticeship program

Once you’re accepted into an apprenticeship program, you can begin working as a paid apprentice under journeyman lineman who can teach you the knowledge and skills you need to pass your apprenticeship. Here are some trade skills you can learn in a lineman apprenticeship:

• Job safety: You can learn the government safety regulations and best practices for linemen during an apprenticeship. 
• Line assembly: An apprenticeship can teach you how to build and install power lines and towers.
• Pole building: In an apprenticeship, you can also learn how to frame and assemble wooden poles for utility lines.
• Maintenance: During your apprenticeship, you can learn how to properly maintain conductors, telephone lines, street lights, and elements of traffic control systems, like traffic lights.
• Installation: A journeyman lineman or master electrician can teach you to install wires and other hardware into energy, telephone, traffic control, and street light systems.
• Wire insulation: You can also learn to insulate wires safely during a lineman apprenticeship.
• Conductor use: During an apprenticeship, you can learn to remain safe while using conductors.
• Hot stick work: You can learn to use a fiberglass hot stick to stay a safe distance away from high-distribution voltages.

Become a journeyman lineman

Once you’ve completed the required hours of experience in an apprenticeship, you can be eligible to become a journeyman lineman. Some states require you to get a license to become a lineman, so you can use your knowledge from your apprenticeship to obtain a license and begin working independently to repair, replace and maintain power infrastructure.