Electrical Power-Line Installer / Repairer

Install or repair cables or wires used in electrical power or distribution systems. May erect poles and light or heavy duty transmission towers.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Class Gloving Electrical Lineman; Class Rubber Gloving Lineman; Electrical Lineman; Electrical Lineworker; Lineworker; Power Lineman; Power Lineman Technician; Service Man; Third Step Lineman; Troubleman

Tasks

• Adhere to safety practices and procedures, such as checking equipment regularly and erecting barriers around work areas.
• Drive vehicles equipped with tools and materials to job sites.
• Open switches or attach grounding devices to remove electrical hazards from disturbed or fallen lines or to facilitate repairs.
• Climb poles or use truck-mounted buckets to access equipment.
• Install, maintain, and repair electrical distribution and transmission systems, including conduits, cables, wires, and related equipment, such as transformers, circuit breakers, and switches.
• Inspect and test power lines and auxiliary equipment to locate and identify problems, using reading and testing instruments.
• Coordinate work assignment preparation and completion with other workers.
• Replace or straighten damaged poles.
• String wire conductors and cables between poles, towers, trenches, pylons, and buildings, setting lines in place and using winches to adjust tension.
• Attach cross-arms, insulators, and auxiliary equipment to poles prior to installing them.
• Dig holes, using augers, and set poles, using cranes and power equipment.
• Travel in trucks, helicopters, and airplanes to inspect lines for freedom from obstruction and adequacy of insulation.
• Identify defective sectionalizing devices, circuit breakers, fuses, voltage regulators, transformers, switches, relays, or wiring, using wiring diagrams and electrical-testing instruments.
• Install watt-hour meters and connect service drops between power lines and consumers' facilities.
• Test conductors, according to electrical diagrams and specifications, to identify corresponding conductors and to prevent incorrect connections.

Knowledge

• Building and Construction
• English Language
• Mechanical
• Education and Training
• Public Safety and Security
• Transportation
• Customer and Personal Service

Skills

• Active Listening
• Monitoring
• Critical Thinking
• Reading Comprehension
• Active Learning

Abilities

• Problem Sensitivity
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
• Multilimb Coordination
• Near Vision
• Deductive Reasoning
• Control Precision
• Oral Comprehension
• Information Ordering
• Manual Dexterity
• Finger Dexterity
• Inductive Reasoning
• Far Vision
• Flexibility of Closure
• Visualization
• Response Orientation
• Reaction Time
• Static Strength
• Trunk Strength
• Stamina
• Extent Flexibility
• Gross Body Equilibrium
• Oral Expression
• Category Flexibility
• Perceptual Speed
• Selective Attention
• Rate Control
• Visual Color Discrimination
• Depth Perception
• Speech Recognition
• Speech Clarity