Line Superintendent Skip Jobe practices his CPR technique.

Lineman Chris Smith rushes to bring equipment to his team during the timed drill.

REMC lineworkers construct, maintain and repair electric distribution lines that deliver energy to your homes, schools and businesses. Your Randolph Electric crews are ready to respond during storms or other outage events. They are also trained with life-saving skills to aid their fellow crew members in the event of an emergency. If a lineworker should become impaired or unresponsive high atop a utility pole, co-workers must perform a specialized rescue to save a life.

On Tuesday, May 16, 2023, REMC lineworkers sharpened their skills by practicing pole top and bucket rescue drills on the grounds of the Asheboro office. The lineworkers race against the clock to execute a scenario based on retrieving an unconscious coworker from a utility pole. Each employee dressed in full climbing gear, radioed for help, scaled 20 feet up the utility pole, lowered a 105-pound mannequin to the ground and began lifesaving procedures. Every year, all NC electric cooperative lineworkers must complete this same scenario 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 our crews, who depend upon each other to restore power and who guard each other’s lives on the job every day.”