Enduring stormy weather, ice and other challenging conditions, lineworkers often must climb 40 or more feet in the air, carrying heaving equipment to restore power. Listed as one of the 10 most dangerous jobs in the U.S., lineworkers must perform detailed tasks within reach of high voltage power lines. To help keep them safe, lineworkers wear specialized protective clothing and equipment. This includes special fire-resistant clothing that will self-extinguish, limiting potential injuries from burns and sparks. Insulated and rubber gloves are worn in tandem to protect them from electrical shock. And while the gear performs a critical function, it also adds more weight and bulk, making the job even more difficult.
In addition to the highly visible tasks lineworkers perform, their job today goes far beyond climbing to the top of a pole to repair a wire. They are also information experts that can pinpoint an outage from miles away and restore power remotely. Line crews use their laptops and cell phones to map outages, take pictures of the work they have done and troubleshoot problems. In our communities, Gibson EMC lineworkers are responsible for keeping power flowing through more than 3,500 miles of lines throughout 12 counties 24/7.
They are fully committed and push themselves incredibly hard to serve you well. That’s why we recognize our lineworkers in April. April 8 is National Lineworker Appreciation Day. Please help us thank the people behind our power by using the hashtag #ThankALineworker on social media.