Brandon McNeill, Journeyman Lineman at Randolph EMC, ranked among the fastest in the state at the 2021 Pole Top Rescue Competition at Nash Community College in Rocky Mount.

Brandon McNeill poses with his family: wife, Katie and daughters, Emory and Sawyer.

This biennial event pits line workers against the clock and each other as they demonstrate essential lifesaving skills and the job knowledge required to maintain the lines that power the lives of electric cooperative member-consumers. To advance to this state championship competition, each competitor had to win a similar event at their local cooperative.

During the competition, each line worker executed a rescue scenario of retrieving an unconscious coworker from atop a utility pole. The competitor, dressed in full climbing gear, must radio for help, scale 20 feet up the utility pole, lower a 105-pound mannequin and begin lifesaving procedures. All NC electric cooperative line workers must complete this same scenario in less than five minutes to maintain their certification to work on co-op lines.

“Randolph EMC is dedicated to safety training that promotes quick thinking when lives are on the line,” said CEO Dale Lambert. “We are proud of Brandon, who demonstrated outstanding standards of excellence in this challenging competition.”