Eight teams and 13 individuals won awards at the American Public Power Association’s seventeenth annual Public Power Lineworkers Rodeo, held April 27-28, in Raleigh/Wake Forest, N.C.
Sixty-six teams and 145 apprentices from not-for-profit, community-owned electric utilities across the nation participated.
The rodeo is a series of competitive events demonstrating lineworker skills and safe work practices.
The awards honor lineworkers’ expertise, and the events are judged based upon safety, work practices, neatness, ability, equipment handling, and timely event completion.
All safety rules established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Association’s Safety Manual were observed during events.
There are two levels of competition within the rodeo — journeyman and apprentice. The journeyman teams consist of three members — two climbers and a ground person — and can include an optional alternate.
A qualified journeyman has more than four years of experience within the electric utility trade. An apprentice lineworker has four or fewer years of experience.
A complete list of winners from this year’s rodeo is available here.
