They wake before the sun, pour steaming cups of coffee, and kiss their family goodbye. After swinging by the office to get the day’s orders, they climb into their trucks and head out. Our lineworkers form a solid team with one job: to deliver safe, reliable electricity. But that job can change in a million ways when rough weather steps in.
We often take power—and the men and women who provide it—for granted. Let’s take a moment and stand in their boots. Linemen have to work safely, smart, and efficiently—all while 40 feet in the air wearing sturdy, thick rubber gloves. On a typical day, lineworkers maintain electrical distribution lines or build service to new homes and businesses in Missouri. They have a lot on their plates. But when our dispatch center calls crews with a problem, everything else takes a backseat.
Power restoration takes precedence on a lineworker’s to-do list. These brave men are always on call. We have crews standing by to serve you 24 hours a day, in the middle of the night or wee hours of the morning, weekends and holidays.
Can you imagine getting a call at 3 a.m. telling you to work outside during bad weather? Not many people are willing to face storms. Our lineworkers face harsh elements daily, all to serve you.
Lineworkers also focus on safety; the lives of coworkers are on the line. Job safety is important to everyone, no matter your occupation. But for lineworkers, there can be no slip ups or careless actions. Mistakes can cost a limb or life. That’s one of the reasons lineman form a brotherhood. When you put your life in the hands of co-workers every day, they become more than colleagues. They’re family.
That sense of family extends to electric co-ops across the nation. One of our principles is Cooperation Among Cooperatives. We help other co-ops in their time of need, and they extend that service to us, too. It’s reassuring to know if a severe storm strikes, a national team of lineworkers stand ready to answer the call.
To be ready to respond no matter the situation or weather conditions, linemen are highly trained. At Missouri’s Electric Cooperatives lineworkers go through regular training to ensure they can work safely with various kinds of equipment. The equipment gets tested regularly, too.
These highly skilled men light our homes and businesses every day. They endure harsh weather and long hours, all to make our lives better. Today (and every day), please take a moment to thank them Our lineworkers are the heart of the Co-op Nation, proud and strong.
