Journeyman Lineworker/Advanced Apprentice

Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric utility that provides power to rural Wright County and western Hennepin County. The cooperative has been a corporate citizen to the area since 1937 and currently serves more than 59,000 electric accounts.

The Journeyman Lineworker/Advanced Apprentice is responsible for providing 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.

This is a union position in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Pay will be per union contract.

Primary Responsibilities:

Operational

• Knowing how to use the Associations system maps and knowing how to interpret staking sheets.
• Having a full understanding of overhead and underground construction specifications.
• Knowing how to read substation and sectionalizing diagrams and being familiar with the proper operation and applications of all sectionalizing devices used on the system.
• Being familiar with all materials and supplies needed for line construction and using such to ensure construction is done according to specifications. Checking out material and returning salvage to warehouse.
• Constructing or rebuilding of the Association’s electrical system according to RUS specifications and as laid out on staking sheets.
• 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.
• Using two-way radio and complying with operating practices in its use to assure the safe construction of the electric system.
• Performing after-hour duty assignments as directed. Restoring service in a prompt and efficient manner.
• Having necessary first aid skills to assist in an emergency situation.
• Completing work orders, transformer records, time sheets, and other forms and reports as directed.
• Assuring the care and maintenance of an assigned vehicle, tools, and equipment.
• Taking part in educations classes and meetings so as to be familiar with current operating and safety practices.

Safety

• Check and test rubber gloves and other safety equipment daily.
• 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.
• Obtain necessary first aid skills to assist in an emergency situation.
• Use two-way radio and comply with operating practices in its use to assure the safe construction of the electric system.
• Participate in educations classes and meetings to stay current with operating and safety practices.

Participate in team and Cooperative activities

• Execute necessary processes to complete assigned items of Operations work plan/to-do list.
• Assist with special projects and duties as requested or assigned.
• Attend Cooperative and department meetings, sometimes during non-work hours.
• Participate in W-H’s Training and Continuing Education program

Education and Experience & Licenses/Certificates

• High school education or equivalent
• Completion of, and certification of, technical school Power Lineworker course work, completion of Apprentice Lineman training program (4 years)
• Must be First Aid/CPR certified.
• Valid Class A driver’s license and must be mechanically inclined

Physical Requirements:

• 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-six 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 daily.
• 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 daily.
  • On an occasional basis, employee is also climbing an 8–12-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 while 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 daily. This is required less often during the winter months.
• Standing/Walking/Sitting:
  • For most 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 to the 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 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 from 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, et