Utility workers also called Linemen, deal with so many different tasks and jobs, safety is the most important factor which is always on every lineman’s mind. The dangers every linemen always face with every job they perform include High voltage contact with wires and connectors on telephone poles, working at higher heights than other jobs, majority of linemen have to work in confined spaces as well as challenging weather conditions and situations. Many linemen work on telephone phones with bad wiring or telephone poles that might have been struck by lightning or knocked down due to harsh winds or car accidents. All linemen must follow OSHA rules and regulations during all jobs they perform, linemen must have the proper training, and must have the proper safety gear on during every job they do.
The most important tool all Linemen must have are the proper boots, these boots must be durable enough to withstand all types of weather conditions and situations as well as giving the Linemen grip to climb. Linemen should have waterproof boots to protect their feet from water, and dangerous objects they may encounter with each job they perform. Their boots must also have good treading and traction as well as comfortability for the lineman. These boots must also have durable materials as well as insulation. Along with boots, all Linemen must have a screwdriver kit, along with a nut driver kit and pliers, cutters and cable knives, and hammers. All these tools have specific jobs they can perform such as fixing and repairing telephone wiring, cables as well as working on both transmission and distribution lines. Pliers are also known as the lineman bending tools, allowing the lineman to bend wires and be used during their job task they’re working on. Cable knives are used mainly to cut any existing lines ranging from cable wires to regular wiring or any wiring needing to be repaired and replaced with proper working wires. Linemen might also need tree trimmers just in case there might be limbs or tree branches in the way of their work task they need to perform and complete.
Other tools every Linemen should have in their possession are circuit testers, skinning knives, waterproof work gloves and boots. All these tools have their own purpose, the circuit testers test the presence of electricity in the wiring the linemen are working on. The skinning knives are another essential tool every lineman should have because they are using the skinning knives to thread restorers and remove staples. Waterproof gloves help the lineman do several tasks without getting their hands wet, too cold, burned by heat, or getting electrocuted by the electricity with every job task they perform. Lineman bending tools required are also essential tools they need to have on hand with every job and task they perform include pliers, which are used on all job tasks, wire cutters which are mainly used when the lineman is repairing or distributing the line wiring to various transformers.
Lineman’s tool belt and toolbox should come complete with all these tools to ensure their job tasks are fast and can be performed fully and successfully completed. These tools must also successfully suit the lineman properly in order to perform well with their jobs at hand, as well as maintaining the safety standards they’re required to follow by OSHA. Other tools and supplies every lineman should have and are required to have on them during every job they perform are safety goggles or glasses as well as safety suits.