Twelve teams and 13 individuals won awards at the American Public Power Association’s nineteenth annual Public Power Lineworkers Rodeo, held March 29-30, in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Eighty teams and 133 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 Association noted in a news release.
“This event is all about safety, comradery, and pride in the craft of linework,” said Mike Hyland, senior vice president of engineering services at the Association. “But I think each and every one of the competitors will tell you they had some fun.”
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, the Association noted.
A complete list of 2019 public power lineworkers rodeo winners is available here.
