This month we feature four of our employees who work every day in all weather conditions to power our members' lives.

The Danger of the Job

Most folks understand that the job itself is perilous since lineworkers operate near high-voltage electricity. If an employee moves the wrong way or loses focus for a split second, his actions could be deadly.

Lineworkers must be aware of their surroundings and must safeguard the safety of the rest of the crew at all times. The job requires concentration and allows no margin for error.

The environment compounds the pressure because when members need power most, the weather is usually at its worst. Linemen work in storms with rain, wind, extreme heat and cold, in the dark or on the side of the road next to fast-moving traffic. The job is dangerous, but it is what our line personnel are trained to do.

Linemen undergo continuous training throughout their career. They typically start as a groundperson, helping crews with tools and keeping job sites safe, then transition to apprentice status, which can span four years. After an apprenticeship with more than 7,000 hours of training under their belts, they are promoted to journeyman lineworker status and are considered officially trained in the field.

The education does not stop there. Lineworkers continuously participate in professional development opportunities to stay mindful of safety requirements and up to date on the latest equipment and procedures.

The Physical Demand

The job comes with high expectations of daily physical exertion, requiring strenuous effort from each employee. Lineworkers load heavy materials, climb poles and are constantly in and out of buckets. Often the workers go places that the trucks cannot access. REMC employees may hike through the Uwharrie Forest while loaded down with 40 pounds of personal protective equipment. But that’s the job, and instead of complaining, Randolph EMC's lineworkers are glad to be outside.

The Sacrifices

The job demands sacrifices from our line crews. They are often the first on the scene of an emergency and often see devastating things like car accidents, structure fires and damage from severe storms. Our line personnel walk bravely into the unknown, grappling with each reality as they face it. The work itself can occur at inconvenient times. Randolph EMC receives calls at all hours including the middle of the night. This means that our line crew have had to miss their children's baseball games, celebratory family dinners and even holidays.

Their Randolph EMC family, however, understands this sacrifice and works to support them. Our cooperative employs outstanding workers who prioritize helping their friends and neighbors get back to a normal life after an outage. These employees let nothing stand in the way of power restoration.

It’s Worth It

One thing that makes this job worthwhile is the camaraderie. The co-op is the lineworker's second family, and our line crews are very tight teams. In this work, each team member must depend on the person beside him in life-or-death circumstances. It’s a culture of trust, teamwork and service. It’s all about keeping the teammate beside you safe and the lights on for everybody else. Randolph EMC's lineworkers take immense pride in their work. Even when it’s cold and wet, they know they are working to keep people warm. They take a lot of satisfaction from members who say "thank you" after their lights come back on or from seeing people flipping the light switches on their porches after an outage is restored. Despite the long hours and the exhausting effort, our lineworkers experience a feeling of pride after every storm. They know that their hard work not only restores electricity, but it also brings back a sense of stability and comfort to our members.

Randolph EMC's lineworkers are members of the communities we serve. Our crews provide power to the neighborhoods, stores and schools that you and your family frequent every day. If your lights are off, there is a good chance our lineworkers' families are out of power, too. So, you can trust that our Randolph EMC lineworkers are doing their utmost to get the lights back on as quickly and safely as possible. Randolph EMC would like to thank each of our lineworkers for their sacrifice, service to the community and their attention to safety.