Electric cooperatives play a vital role in powering communities across North Carolina. Lineworkers who work for these cooperatives are responsible for maintaining and repairing the electrical infrastructure that powers homes, businesses, and essential services. They receive comprehensive training each year to ensure they are well-equipped with the knowledge and skills to work safely, especially in a work environment where they must be able to rescue a co-worker.

Line Technician 3 Tristan Freytag completed the Pole-top Rescue drill with the fastest time of 1:35.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires our lineworkers to perform yearly Pole-top Rescue drills. The rescue drill is a simulated emergency scenario in which a lineworker gets injured while working at the top of a power pole; when the lineworker recognizes the injured victim, they must act quickly and lower the injured lineworker to the ground. The drill is a timed scenario that has to be completed in less than five minutes. The drill is a crucial part of our safety protocol. It demands quick and efficient action from our linemen and creates a sense of urgency and seriousness.

During the Pole-top Rescue drill, the lineworker reports the emergency through the radio, gears up in their climbing gear, scales the pole, safely lowers the victim to the ground, and performs CPR and first aid. This comprehensive process ensures that our lineworkers are prepared to handle any emergency that may arise during their job.

Congratulations to this year’s quickest Pole-top rescuers, Line Technician 3 Tristan Freytag, who completed with the fastest time of 1:35; Crew Supervisor Colton Helms with a time of 1:52, and Crew Supervisor Josh Morrison finished with a time of 1:57.