Electrical Powerline and Cable Worker Spotlight

Electrical Powerline and Cable Workers can be seen scaling the tall power line poles that bring electricity to industrial facilities and crouching in confined spaces, such as trenches and tunnels, installing power lines. During the construction of oil and gas facilities and pipelines, they are the ones who ensure all the significant power requirements are met.

What a typical day looks like:

Electrical Powerline and Cable Workers start off their day reading blueprints, also known as ‘one lines,’ which are complex diagrams that outline the locations of electrical switches and the areas they power. Once they have a good grasp on what power is needed to which parts of the facility, they work with crew members from other professions, such as electricians, engineers and project managers to construct, maintain and repair the overhead and underground electrical power transmission and distribution systems that make up the electrical power grid.

They bend, crouch, kneel and climb to reach existing power lines, and they bring the necessary equipment and tools with them. This could include scaling 80 to 90-foot poles, hanging in leg irons and being handed materials that weigh up to 150 pounds.

Electrical Powerline and Cable Workers spend a great deal of time outdoors and travel to remote parts of the country, sometimes by helicopter, where power generation plants and new facilities are located. This may require working away from home for long periods of time, living in a camp and extended hours.

The kinds of problems Electrical Powerline and Cable Workers solve at work:

Troubleshooting and finding solutions is a big part of the job. There are customer service calls and power interruptions that need to be solved, and blueprints that need to be changed from an idea on paper into a real electrical system. Electrical Powerline and Cable Workers are brimming with solutions and workarounds. They inspect and test overhead and underground power lines, cables and auxiliary equipment. They find and isolate the problem amid a whirlwind of circuit breakers, fuses, transformers and relays. And, they have the knowledge and experience needed to fix the problem and get electricity flowing again.

Skills used most on the job:

Electrical Powerline and Cable Workers are consistently exposed to heights, extreme weather and the risk of electrical shock. Luckily, their strict adherence to safety procedures ensures they and everyone on their team gets home safely. They also have building and construction experience, keen attention to detail and active listening skills that they use throughout the day. As they gain experience and advance in their careers, they need quality control and critical thinking skills as well.

Electrical Powerline and Cable Workers make power possible. If they’re not stringing a new power line, they’re troubleshooting an existing one. Thanks to Electrical Powerline and Cable Workers, our oil and gas facilities have all of the power they need.