During the Industrial Age, electricians and linemen faced some unique challenges that were unique to their occupations. Even today, the way that power is created and transferred across electrical lines is still a mystery to many. It has also been said that the mere act of installing electrical components at work is hard enough without the frustration of having to deal with electricians continually.
If the efficiency of electricity is not sufficient to provide all of the power for an electrical line, it is not uncommon for a large amount of material and energy to be wasted through poor construction. And this is not the primary thing that is costly when it comes to electrical equipment.
Lineworkers may find themselves spending a significant amount of time on the job, all while being faced with electrical hazards that can quickly become fatal. Yet, just as newer electricians can reach higher levels of skill, so is the average level of electricians skilled at working with power lines. The number of accidents and power-related injuries among electricians has remained steady for decades, but this is changing.
A two-year electrician training course will train you to know how to use electricity safely, yet it won’t necessarily prepare you for what lies ahead when you begin to build your power system. For new electricians, this is one of the most significant challenges, as they must learn to manage the responsibility that comes with building and operating electrical systems at their website.
Some electrical contractors will specialize in modern linemen, who will be able to help construct and install the newest, most efficient power systems at power company sites. Other electrical contractors may specialize in electrical linemen, who are familiar with necessary procedures and would be expected to use a variety of different linemen tools and devices, such as power shovels and equipment boxes.
If you are considering this type of specialization, you should find what type of electrician training you need to attend and what area of the field you want to specialize in. It would be best if you also kept in mind that some power companies have regulations that, by law and ethics, must be met before you can begin to install a new system, and you need to be up to date on these requirements.
Electricians who work with wires and cables may be more prone to getting electrocuted than other electricians. They often must use power shovels to dig up buried cables or passageways and enter hard-to-reach areas. While some of these electrical jobs will be for utility linemen, there is usually a significant amount of added training required for electricians that specialize in this area.
Many electricians prefer to specialize in this area because the tools that are used in this field are lighter, more flexible, and easier to operate. The number of linemen tools and gadgets that electricians use for digging holes, routing wiring, and entering into sealed and non-sealed areas is significantly reduced, allowing them to spend less time worrying about these types of tools. Modern linemen will also have to be familiar with handling rubber gloves, hand tools, among other tools and equipment.
Electricians that specialize in this field will be required to pass a physical test and meet several other requirements to qualify for this job. However, there are no licensing requirements that are required to take this training. This is common with this specialized profession, as most electricians cannot show a certificate or certification to get a job.
Electricians that do not specialize in this area will be expected to be very well-versed in the correct use of power tools and the basic knowledge of power lines and their operation. For instance, a modern lineman will be expected to know what to look for when fixing a damaged electrical line, as there are numerous ways that electrical lines can be damaged or installed incorrectly. Once this type of damage is found, the job will be suspended until the electrical lineman can resolve the problem.
Electricians who specialize in this area will also be expected to be skilled at repairing power line work that has been damaged by lightning. Many older power companies still use high voltage electrical lines but have limited the number of power lines that they use due to safety concerns—these types of power lines, which can be damaged by lightning strikes.