| What is an electrical lineman? An electrical lineman, | | | | by driving heavy line trucks or bucket trucks and |
| sometimes referred to as a utility lineman, electric | | | | sorting and organizing line tools, sending linemans tools |
| lineman, journeyman lineman or power lineman (after | | | | up power poles by handline to the journeyman linemen |
| one completes lineman training and after being an | | | | and apprentices at work. |
| apprentice lineman). | | | | During a linemans apprenticeship, one will learn pole |
| An electrical lineman installs, repairs and maintains | | | | climbing, although at times he will ride in a bucket truck. |
| transmission and distribution electric power grids. A | | | | Some linemen don't allow apprentices to use bucket |
| lineman works on high voltage wires or conductors | | | | trucks until they top out to journeyman lineman. They |
| and must adhere to the most stringent safety rules | | | | will learn rigging techniques, safety and first aid, |
| and protocols, as electrical work is inherently | | | | electrical theory, transformer hook-up and theory, wire |
| dangerous. It is very popular to be a member of a | | | | stringing techniques, pole setting, covering techniques |
| union, or the IBEW (International Brotherhood of | | | | (primary voltages), use of rubber gloves and rubber |
| Electrical Workers). | | | | protective equipment, and more. |
| How does one become a One can go to a lineman | | | | Once one completes apprenticeship training, he |
| school or training center and work for a utility company | | | | becomes a journeyman lineman. A journeyman |
| and receive on-the-job-training as an apprentice | | | | lineman or power lineman can now find work all over |
| lineman. | | | | the world, and receive top pay. There are power |
| Typically an apprenticeship lasts 3 to 4 years and | | | | lineman jobs and utility jobs posted on many different |
| contains up to 6 or 7 steps. With some companies, | | | | mediums. Various events, such as a linemans rodeo, |
| you must first be a groundman which is an entry level | | | | are out there to showcase a linemans skills. |
| job. As a groundman, one assists linemen in their duties | | | | |