Title: Apprentice Lineworker

Date: May 2013

Page: 5

Job Description

JOB TITLE: / Apprentice Lineworker
DIVISION: / Energy Distribution
DEPARTMENT: / Energy Distribution
REPORTS TO: / Lead Line Crew Foreman
SUPERVISES: / None
FLSA STATUS: / Non-exempt
DATE ISSUED/REVISED: May 2013

GENERAL SUMMARY:

The Apprentice Lineworker is responsible for providing for specific operational duties and responsibilities to be delegated in a competent, well-trained person whose knowledge of and ability in this position will contribute to the attainment of the basic purpose of the Association.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  1. Meets daily with supervisory field personnel to receive work orders and review instructions.
  2. Helps check out all materials for each assignment, as specified by staking sheets.
  3. Loads each line vehicle with checked out materials.
  4. Returns and helps dismantle salvage materials.
  5. Transfers poles from inventor to trailer and assists in the pole setting operation. Assists with framing poles and specifications.
  6. Performs any procedures customary to overhead and underground distribution line work (string wire, splicing, terminating, climbing and framing poles, etc.)
  7. Ensures the replacement of vehicle stock utilized during daily operations.
  8. Responsible for daily servicing (gas, oil, clean windshield, etc.) of crew and line vehicles.
  9. Drives and operates cooperative vehicles and equipment as directed.
  10. Checks and tests rubber gloves daily.
  11. Possessing a license required by the state to operate association vehicles and observing all traffic laws, rules, and regulations in the operation of association vehicles.
  12. Using two-way radio and complying with operating practices in its use to assure the safe construction of the electric system.
  13. Having necessary first aid skills to assist in an emergency situation.
  14. Taking part in education classes and meetings so as to be familiar with current operating and safety practices.

JOB CRITERIA

Education and Experience

The person holding this position must have a high school education or equivalent, a completion of, and certification of, technical school Power Lineworker course work, enrolled in and on course for completion of Apprentice Lineman training program (4 years), must be First Aid/CPR certified, have a valid Class A drivers license, and must be mechanically inclined.

Key Competencies

Technical Competencies:

  • Answers customer’s inquires effectively by providing accurate, meaningful, and courteous responses to questions in a timely manner.
  • Supports teamwork by providing effective participation, cooperation, and communication.
  • Must be innovative in order to creatively develop new solutions to problems. Seeks, recommends, develops, supports, and encourages new ideas.
  • Pursues personal development opportunities and is committed to stay technically current. Practices new skills to develop competence and confidence. Actively participates in training and meetings.
  • Employee must hold a Commercial Driver’s License. Employee is required to operate vehicles that include, but are not limited to: cable plow, tampers, skid loader, tractor loader backhoe, aerial lift, trencher, digger derricks, cranes, dump trucks, forklifts, and backhoe trucks.
  • Employee uses a variety of hand tools, machines, and special equipment that include, but are not limited to: chain saw, air hammer, tree trimmer, boring tools, snowplow, crimping tools, hydraulic tools, compressor, torches, portable generator, shovel, chipper, variety of hand tools, climbing hooks, and climbing belts.
  • Lifting/Carrying: On a frequent to continuous basis, employee is using a variety of hand tools throughout the day, weighing approximately 10 pounds. On an occasional basis, up to one-third of the day, employee is lifting and carrying 10-50 pounds of cable equipment and tools. The heaviest weight a worker is required to carry is a conductor, and related line hardware weighing up to 60-100 pounds. This is lifted on average of several times per week, usually with the assistance of another employee.
  • Reaching:
  • For the majority of the day, up to two-thirds, the employee is reaching below shoulder height. The employee is working below shoulder height while performing maintenance work on substations and while operating a variety of equipment.
  • The employee is also working at should height on an occasional basis, occasionally reaching four-sex feet out to the side while performing overhead line construction or maintenance work.
  • On an occasional basis, employee is also reaching above should height while working for the pole, maintaining equipment and working with the conductor.
  • Employee may also be using and reaching from eight, ten, and twelve foot ladders to make or check the connections of a house. This may be done on a daily basis.
  • Pushing/Pulling:
  • On a continuous basis, employee may be required to push, pull, and lift while using a five-foot shovel and while pulling cables, which may be lying in a trench.
  • Most work is done independently, but occasionally work is done with another employee. The cables weigh 2-3 pounds per foot and are on large reels.
  • The employee is also pushing and pulling while loading poles, and while using crimping tools and other various tools and equipment.
  • Climbing:
  • On an occasional basis, employee is required to climb out of trenches, which may be up to four feet deep. During the summer months this is done on a daily basis.
  • On an occasional basis, employee is also climbing an eight to twelve foot ladder to check the connection on a house or trim a tree. When required to climb a pole, employee is climbing an average of 40 feet.
  • Employee will be climbing two to three steps into and out of the truck on a continuous basis throughout the workday. The employee is required to climb these steps an estimated ten to twenty times per day.
  • Twisting/Rotating:
  • Continuous twisting and rotating from the hips, shoulders, and neck is required throughout the workday.
  • The employee is twisting and rotating from the hips and shoulders while shoveling dirt and while operating equipment.
  • The employee is twisting from the neck on a continuous basis wile working on the pole.
  • Handling:
  • On a continuous basis, finger dexterity is required to operate a variety of hand tools and while stripping cable.
  • Simple and firm grasping and gripping is required while using the crimping tools and while operating the bucket. Gripping and grasping is also used throughout the day while shoveling and while using hand and power tools.
  • Stooping/Bending/Squatting:
  • Stooping, bending, and squatting are performed on a frequent basis throughout the workday.
  • The employee is stooping on a frequent basis while shoveling. Shoveling with a five-foot shovel may require up to two-thirds of the workday.
  • The employee is bending while working on cables, conductors, or underground equipment.
  • The employee may be required to squat for a short duration while working on various equipment.
  • Kneeling:
  • The worker may be kneeling on a frequent basis while working on underground transformers and while performing other underground work.
  • During the summer, working in trenches may be required on a daily basis. This is required less often during the winter months.
  • Standing/Walking/Sitting:
  • For the majority of the workday, the worker is standing. It is estimated the worker stands approximately 60 percent of the day. The employee may be standing while performing maintenance work on the lines, substations, and equipment.
  • The worker is walking approximately thirty percent of the day. Since the employee work outdoors, the worker may be exposed to uneven ground, ice, snow, and mud. The employee is walking to reach the worksite, to move equipment and tools from the truck tot eh worksite, and while moving cable.
  • The worker is sitting approximately twenty percent to the day while riding or driving in the truck to and from the worksite. In addition, the worker is required to attend meetings and to complete daily time sheets and reports as required.
  • Talking/Hearing:
  • Since employee may be required to work independently or work with other employees as a team, talking is required to communicate with team members. The employee is talking while coordinating work activities with other team members and while communication with dispatch and others over two-way radio or cell phone.
  • Hearing is required in order to receive instructions and direction from the person in charge. Hearing instructions over the two-way radio from dispatch is also required on a frequent basis throughout the workday.
  • In addition, talking and hearing while operating and working around potentially dangerous tools and equipment is necessary as a safety concern fro the employee and other team members.
  • Vision:
  • The employee must have the ability to read specific instructions, diagrams, map books for work locations, and numbers on parts and equipment.
  • Good eyesight and ability to identify colors, particularly red, white, and blue, are used to identify appropriate parts and equipment. Color-coding is used on energized cables of the electrical system to identify phases.
  • Depth perception is also used by the worker to recognize distances from the conductor and is required on a continuous basis to maintain safety for the employee.
  • Working Above Ground:
  • On a frequent basis, worker is working above ground in a bucket while performing maintenance work.
  • On an occasional basis, worker is working above the ground on poles. These poles, on average, are 35-45 feet above the ground. A variety of climbing and safety equipment is sued by the employee while climbing and working on the pole.
  • Foot controls: The employee uses foot controls on a continuous basis while operating a variety of vehicles. Foot control are used while operating digger derricks, trucks, backhoe, pickup trucks, forklifts, etc.

Accountability: The Apprentice Lineworker shall have full authority to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the position. The Apprentice Lineworker shall keep the Line Crew Foreman informed concerning work in progress and work completed, in addition to consulting with him/her concerning problems which hinder efficient completion of duties and responsibilities of the problem. The Apprentice Lineworker shall also insure that all work is done in a safe and proper manner. The Apprentice Lineworker shall maintain a friendly relationship with the public, notifying all members of planned outages.

Working Conditions: Ability to perform finger and hand manipulation and perform repetitive motions in order to test equipment and operate hand tools. Ability to exert up to 100 lbs of force while assembling and installing line equipment. Ability to travel to construction and maintenance sites as part of normal duties on order to build and maintain the distribution system. Ability to discern colors and have depth perception in order to perform electrical inspections, meter readings, and field observations.

Please send resume to W-H Electric, P.O. Box 330, Rockford, MN 55373, fax 763-477-3193, or e-mail to