Most of us have the luxury of dressing for summer weather when we’re outside. Breathable fabrics and short-sleeved shirts are not always an option for lineworkers.
Regardless of the temperatures and humidity they endure, York Electric crews are required to wear special personal protective equipment (PPE) while working around energized lines. They wear fire-retardant long-sleeved shirts and pants, steel-toed boots, rubber gloves, rubber sleeves covering their arms to their shoulders, hard hats and safety glasses.
Although the PPE our lineworkers wear helps keep them safe from the hazards of electricity, it can also contribute to dehydration or heat exhaustion. Aside from stocking the trucks with plenty of water and electrolyte drinks each day, YEC makes every effort to allow crews to begin earlier and avoid the extreme heat of our summer afternoons. However, outages don’t always occur in favorable temperatures.
YEC linemen can’t choose what time of day they’ll be at the top of that pole. But don’t worry—their priority is always to look out for you and to keep your lights on. They’ll be sweating so you don’t have to.
Why do we trim?
Your co-op spends time and money where it matters to provide you with the service you expect. Here are the top three reasons why trimming trees is an important part of our maintenance program:
- To maintain reliability. Cutting trees away from the line helps to prevent service interruptions.
- To create easy access. In an outage situation, time is of the essence. Keeping trees and shrubs away from poles and lines makes it easier to locate and repair damages.
- Safety. Keeping vegetation away from powerlines provides a safer working environment for linemen, minimizing contact risks and hazardous conditions.
