Take Time to Appreciate Linemen Every Day Posted on April 25, 2017May 15, 2017 by Tamara Leher Businesses and households wouldn’t have power if it weren’t for the hard work and dedication of countless linemen. This April, and every month, Border States recognizes the hard work of our nation’s line men and women. What Do Linemen Do? The men and women in this profession complete work across every aspect of the power grid. They head underground or strap on safety harnesses to fix or maintain overhead power lines. When the weather knocks out electricity, linemen arrive on the scene to restore power as quickly as possible to ensure emergency systems work. Even when there aren’t any emergencies, linemen maintain the electrical grid day and night to ensure the country keeps running. Linemen Face Dangers Every Day Linemen complete their job duties knowing full well the dangers of their profession. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as cited by Utility Dive, electrical line work is one of the 10 most deadly professions in the country. Linemen have a fatality rate of 19.2 per 100,000 workers, though the number of accidents and fatalities has steadily declined since 1994. Some of the dangers powerline workers face, according to Safety + Health Magazine include: Work zone safety. Difficult weather conditions. Working from heights. Completing work in confined spaces. Burning, cutting or welding. Contact with high-voltages. Linemen must be Protected and Recognized In 2014, OSHA published a final rule to reduce the number of safety hazards electrical lineworkers face. OSHA made significant changes to training requirements to ensure workers are proficient in spotting dangerous working conditions and knowing how to handle or avoid electrical hazards present at a worksite. Employers should also take steps to change the safety culture by emphasizing safety during the hiring process and spending the resources to train and retrain specific skills. In many ways, linemen are first responders, just like police officers and firefighters. But they don’t always receive the same recognition as those professions, despite the importance of keeping the electrical grid running. That’s why the U.S. Senate passed a resolution recognizing National Lineman Day in 2013. Lineworkers deserve to be recognized for their work keeping America’s electrical systems up and running, despite the many dangers. April 18 may have been National Lineman Appreciation Day, but at Border States, we #ThankALineman every single day. In April, Border States devoted a number of posts to recognizing the history of the American Lineman. Read more about the challenges, adventure and danger from past to present. In honor of National Lineman Appreciation Day, we gave away 10 autographed copies of “The American Lineman,” by Alan Drew. Congratulations to our winners! Larry from Marana, AZ Tom from Brighton, MO Levi from Wolf Point, MT Jesse from Tucson, AZ Darrin from Thief River Falls, MN Dean from Cokato, MN Frank from San Diego, CA Matthew from Marana, AZ Bruce from Winona, MN Josh from Spirit Lake, IA Visit our National Lineman Appreciation Day Page #ThankALineman Read more: The Kiss of Life: A Moment in Linemen History Linemen Images from Past to Present: A Visual Journey Border States Donates to the National Sisterhood United for Journeymen Linemen Showing Support for American Linemen, the Nation’s Toughest The American Linemen – A Reflection on Their Contributions to the Betterment of America National Lineman Appreciation Day Linemen: Safety is Everything Honoring the Workers Who Keep the Lights On E-commerce offerings: Hi-Vis Clothing FR Clothing Arc Flash Protection Hotsticks and HV Tooling Insulated Tools Lineman Tool Carriers Lineman Tools Fall Protection Insulating Gloves Call and let us help meet all of your product and solution needs (866-483-7289). Ask us about other linemen safety products, including Capital safety seat belts, positioning lanyards, safety harnesses, tool tethering and more. Did you know that any customer is eligible for online ordering? All you need to do is fill out this online form. Key benefits include: Order anytime, 24/7, 365 days a year. If you can connect, you can place an order. Create custom order templates, aka “My Lists.” Reduce search time, click, order, done. Track purchase history and view your account information. You can review invoices any time, track purchase history, and print or download records.
