About Journeyman Lineman
Walking into a room and flipping a light switch is an automatic reaction for most people, requiring no conscious thought. But, a lot of thought and a lot of hard work went into providing the electricity that lights a room when the switch is flipped. One of the most important people working behind the scenes to provide the power that we often take for granted is the journeyman lineman. Not only does the journeyman lineman provide power to our homes, he is also part of the first responder team in times of natural and man-made disasters, providing power around the clock and on call to restore power around the clock.
Other People Are Reading
-
Identification
-
A lineman works for a power utility company. The job of a lineman is to construct and maintain power lines. A lineman is responsible for the installation of power poles as well as installing the power lines from the source of power to the poles and to the individual homes and businesses. One power lines have been installed in an area, the lineman is then responsible for maintenance and upkeep of the lines. A journeyman lineman is a person who has completed the steps of the apprenticeship program and is considered a master at his job.
Warning
-
While a journeyman lineman is rewarded substantially for his/her role, the job is a dangerous job. Not only is the lineman required to climb telephone poles and work from buckets attached to a truck and lifted into the air, but the lineman is also required to work with "live" electrical lines. There are many precautions that a journeyman lineman must take and one of the most important aspects of the job is safety training and implementation.
-
Significance
-
The journeyman lineman plays a significant role in society. Without the work performed by linemen, it would not be possible to have power in homes, buildings, on streets, and in parks and wildlife refuges. Linemen are responsible for keeping power lines clear of any obstructing objects and are responsible for the flow of electricity from the power source to homes and buildings. During times of natural disasters, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and snow/ice storms, people's lives often depend on the work of the linemen. In times such as these, linemen come together from all over the country in order to protect people from the dangers of downed power lines and restore power as quickly as possible.
Time Frame
-
It can take years to reach the status of journeyman lineman. Although every utility company does not require a formal education, most do require at least a high school diploma or equivalent. Though not always a requirement, there are 1-year and 2-year programs available. The 2-year program rewards the graduate with an Associate's Degree.
However, an Associate's degree only qualifies a candidate for a lineman apprenticeship program. Most linemen start out as groundmen, or grunts. This job involves performing the grunt jobs on the ground for the journeyman linemen: loading and unloading trucks, digging tunnels for lines and holes for power poles. The next step is apprentice lineman. In this role, a lineman begins to learn how to install line with no voltage. An apprentice lineman is often responsible for running line from the power pole to the home or business. The apprentice lineman works his way up from basic installation of wire to other areas of the job. Once he/she has mastered all of the phases of the job, the next step is journeyman lineman.
Benefits
-
Utility companies often offer substantial benefits packages including medical, dental, and life insurance as well as paid sick days and vacations, and substantial retirement packages. Hourly wages for linemen range from a low of around $14.00 per hour at the entry level to a high of over $34.00. The average earnings for a lineman are around $24.00 per hour. As a person advances through the apprenticeship program to journeyman lineman, the earnings and benefits increase.
-
