A look inside the tedious but essential job of a lineworker
A day in the life of a lineman is tedious, dangerous and essential. The kind of work makes an Upstate mother call her son a hero.The calm after a storm is when work begins on the line. After intense heat, rain, snow or a hurricane, hard hats and yellow vests fall into line alongside first responders. Patty Bridwell’s son is one of many power line workers who leave the dinner table on a moment’s notice to help others get the lights back on.When power outages stretch beyond their own communities, workers often leave loved ones and livelihoods for hours, days, weeks and months.Bridwell’s son has traveled across state lines after some of the nation’s most dangerous weather events. “Wherever they need to send him — they have to send out anybody to help when the natural disasters happen,” Bridwell said. “Working, coming home, taking a cold shower, sleeping a few hours and getting back up, doing it again.”Bridwell said her son never stopped looking to the sky, and it led him to become the family’s first lineman.”He’s always been the top, a child that wanted to run and climb and just do whatever,” Bridwell said. “You really got to love that job and want to do a job like that. It’s not just a job for anybody. But nothing scares him. It does scare me at times.”Bridwell said this essential workforce can be overlooked. While power outages to many can flicker frustration, the work itself is hazardous. A report from World Metrics said the fatality rate of lineworkers is nearly 400% higher than the national average for all occupations. For every lineman fatality, there are approximately 20 nonfatal injuries.The workforce is in high demand. The South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce reported 2,570 in-state employees, and projected growth is expected to hit around 266 job openings a year.“It should be considered a first responder’s job. There’s a lot more than just flipping a switch to get your power home,” Bridwell said. “He’s having problems now, and he’s only 28 years old, from climbing poles and stuff. He does know I worry because I will call him, like, ‘Are you OK?‘ “When you see the bucket cranes and the tireless workers on your drive into town, Bridwell hopes you will do more than glance their way.“Tell them, ‘Hey, you know, we appreciate you,’ or ‘Hey, thank you,’” Bridwell.It is what she does for the lineman in her life every day.
A day in the life of a lineman is tedious, dangerous and essential. The kind of work makes an Upstate mother call her son a hero.
The calm after a storm is when work begins on the line. After intense heat, rain, snow or a hurricane, hard hats and yellow vests fall into line alongside first responders.
Patty Bridwell’s son is one of many power line workers who leave the dinner table on a moment’s notice to help others get the lights back on.
When power outages stretch beyond their own communities, workers often leave loved ones and livelihoods for hours, days, weeks and months.
Bridwell’s son has traveled across state lines after some of the nation’s most dangerous weather events.
“Wherever they need to send him — they have to send out anybody to help when the natural disasters happen,” Bridwell said. “Working, coming home, taking a cold shower, sleeping a few hours and getting back up, doing it again.”
Bridwell said her son never stopped looking to the sky, and it led him to become the family’s first lineman.
“He’s always been the top, a child that wanted to run and climb and just do whatever,” Bridwell said. “You really got to love that job and want to do a job like that. It’s not just a job for anybody. But nothing scares him. It does scare me at times.”
Bridwell said this essential workforce can be overlooked. While power outages to many can flicker frustration, the work itself is hazardous.
A report from World Metrics said the fatality rate of lineworkers is nearly 400% higher than the national average for all occupations. For every lineman fatality, there are approximately 20 nonfatal injuries.
The workforce is in high demand. The South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce reported 2,570 in-state employees, and projected growth is expected to hit around 266 job openings a year.
“It should be considered a first responder’s job. There’s a lot more than just flipping a switch to get your power home,” Bridwell said. “He’s having problems now, and he’s only 28 years old, from climbing poles and stuff. He does know I worry because I will call him, like, ‘Are you OK?’”
When you see the bucket cranes and the tireless workers on your drive into town, Bridwell hopes you will do more than glance their way.
“Tell them, ‘Hey, you know, we appreciate you,’ or ‘Hey, thank you,’” Bridwell.
It is what she does for the lineman in her life every day.