You can't physically touch the conductors due to the voltage. You have to use fiberglass sticks that have attachments to work on the lines. It's a speciality skill set within line work. I'll see if I have any pictures.
Hot stick, you are isolated from the voltage with use of fiberglass sticks. Barehand, you become the same potential of the conductors.
He sounds like quite a worker, that's a good trait these days. Has he ever mentioned working for himself? Does he have a specific skill, roofing? Someone driven like that could do very well owning his own business as a skilled tradesman. I know a 30 year old roofer knocking down at least 500k a year because he takes it serious.
I've never worked on rail, but when they do helicopter work, they wand onto the conductor, the whole aircraft becomes the same potential of the conductor. Difference in potential is what kills you, not the voltage per se.
Hold on...now even chickens have lawyers? If my egg or chicken breast availability gets negativity impacted, I'm blaming you.
I have 35 years with a utility, ended up as the electrical maintenance supervisor at at nuke power plant. One thing I've noticed with my local utility is that they are down-sizing their line crews. Used to be that PP&L did all their own line work. Now it appears as if a large portion is subcontracted out to outfits like Henkels & McCoy. Not sure how the rest of the industry is approaching this issue but it really is a small industry where most do the same thing.
All the power companies and T&D contractors in our area are always hurting for lineman. Seems like a good way to work hard and make damn good money to me. Thick skin will be needed.
My company has to contract out a lot of work due to lack of manpower. The labor/groundman positions are now absorbed by the lineman and add in that we can't get qualified help that want to live in our area, everyone earns their money.
SELCAT or any of the other 8 outside line JATCs in the US. I did my apprenticeship through Cal/Nev. Have him apply to all of them or wherever hes willing to relocate to. Most places want a line school under their belt before applying. It shows that if they willing to spend their money on school they want it, high wash out rate. Its not 100% necessary to get it, although it helps. This trade isnt for most people. We have a hard ass working apprentice right now but he cant retain info for shit. Hes about to get washed out. Another apprentice came from 8 years as a marine, wars and all that shit, he thinks hes entitled to something and has a chip on his shoulder. Hes about to get washed out. Best trade in the world.
I come from a long line of IBEW wireman and lineman. Grandfather, father, Uncle, brother and two nephews. My brother started with a tree trimming company after high school, worked his way into a lineman job and now is working for the utility company Union Electric. He makes six figures, has great benifits and a nice retirement fund waiting for him when the time comes. He worked his ass of dragging branches and climbing trees for a few years and did a lot of storm work but it has paid off. Not bad for a kid that got kicked out of high school for smoking weed and got his diploma at summer school. He is a hard worker though and that paid off for him. It didn’t hurt that he had lots of family to get him into the union. Good luck to your son, he will do fine as they weed out the ass kissers and slackers quick and the cream rises to the top in that profession.
BTW SELCAT is earn while you learn apprentcieship. As with the other Outside Line JATCS. SLTC or out here its NLC is a Pre-apprenticeship school that you pay for to see if you want to do this. Basically hell learn how to climb and come out thinking he knows it all.
Who are we talking about Dits? Zach or Zane? Either way I wish them all the luck. Tell 'em I said hey and I miss those days when they used to "help" me with race control.
Zack. You're right, it seems like yesterday they were the little boys sweeping pit spots for a dollar at Jennings.
I still laugh about one of them asking you to help them with a rhyme for capitalization and you coming here. Ballet of a fort shitter!
I feel like I could do most any job on this Earth with enough training. But there is just no way I could ever do what linemen do.............nothing scares me more than electricity. Don't know why, I guess where some people hate heights I can't stomach the thought of getting fricassee'd into obilivion by having 1.21 jigawatts course through my body. Props to your boy.........I really hope both my kids consider good trades like that.......college is just seeming more and more ridiculous these days.
