torren61
10-31-2012, 08:39 AM
When you work with a different lineman for the first time, how do you know what you're getting?
I was working in Baltimore for Riggs Distler a few years back. A new journeyman lineman showed up to work on the crew. I was the lead lineman and we had to change out a crossarm in a backyard easement pole. Very simple job. The job briefing was that I would be up top and he would be under me and assist since this was his first day so he could get used to what we were doing.
The first thing that got my "spider sense" tingling was that it took him so long to climb up past the telephone. Five minutes. No kidding.
When he got into position, we did a mini briefing on what our duties were in the air and exactly what I was going to do. We talked a bit and I asked him if he was a lineman. He said yes and told me he'd completed SELCAT'S program. Cool, I am a SELCAT graduate.
As lunch neared, I just got the feeling... from asking him questions... that something just didn't add up. We had finished the arm change out and were going to lunch. I always bring mine and he left to get something.
I rang SELCAT and spoke to my long-time friend, who runs that program there. I asked about this lineman and gave him his name. He couldn't be found on the data base so my friend, Virgil, said he go to the hard files and see if he could find him.
A few minutes later, I got a phone call. Turns out the guy never completed his apprenticeship program and had actually been booted out for not doing his time sheets. I was a bit peeved to say the least.
You guys should all know, from time to time your life is in the hands of the other man in the primary with you and vice versa. You HAVE to be able to trust this guy and you need to know what level they are. This is not the time for pretenders.
When this "lineman" returned from lunch, I called him over to the truck i was in. He climbed up into the cab I casually asked him what local he was from. Richmond, VA. I showed him my ticket and he showed me his. Sure enough, Journeyman Lineman ticket. I asked him again if he'd graduated from SELCAT. Yep, he did.
"Well", I said "I just got off the phone with Virgil and he said you'd been kicked out of the program nine months ago. I haven't known you four hours and you've lied to me six times."
He said he'd drag. "H#ll no you won't", I said. "What you're gonna do is stay on this crew and I'm gonna teach you what you need to know to do this job so you don't get hurt or kill someone else." He seemed grateful but he dragged up about three days later. I don't know why. I really don't. I was teaching him like i said I was going to.
Lesson here is to get to know your pole partner and don't take anything for granted. I'd sure like to know how he got that ticket from Richmond. Oh, and thank you so
much Richmond for sending me a completely unqualified man to work high voltage with me. Grrr!!
I was working in Baltimore for Riggs Distler a few years back. A new journeyman lineman showed up to work on the crew. I was the lead lineman and we had to change out a crossarm in a backyard easement pole. Very simple job. The job briefing was that I would be up top and he would be under me and assist since this was his first day so he could get used to what we were doing.
The first thing that got my "spider sense" tingling was that it took him so long to climb up past the telephone. Five minutes. No kidding.
When he got into position, we did a mini briefing on what our duties were in the air and exactly what I was going to do. We talked a bit and I asked him if he was a lineman. He said yes and told me he'd completed SELCAT'S program. Cool, I am a SELCAT graduate.
As lunch neared, I just got the feeling... from asking him questions... that something just didn't add up. We had finished the arm change out and were going to lunch. I always bring mine and he left to get something.
I rang SELCAT and spoke to my long-time friend, who runs that program there. I asked about this lineman and gave him his name. He couldn't be found on the data base so my friend, Virgil, said he go to the hard files and see if he could find him.
A few minutes later, I got a phone call. Turns out the guy never completed his apprenticeship program and had actually been booted out for not doing his time sheets. I was a bit peeved to say the least.
You guys should all know, from time to time your life is in the hands of the other man in the primary with you and vice versa. You HAVE to be able to trust this guy and you need to know what level they are. This is not the time for pretenders.
When this "lineman" returned from lunch, I called him over to the truck i was in. He climbed up into the cab I casually asked him what local he was from. Richmond, VA. I showed him my ticket and he showed me his. Sure enough, Journeyman Lineman ticket. I asked him again if he'd graduated from SELCAT. Yep, he did.
"Well", I said "I just got off the phone with Virgil and he said you'd been kicked out of the program nine months ago. I haven't known you four hours and you've lied to me six times."
He said he'd drag. "H#ll no you won't", I said. "What you're gonna do is stay on this crew and I'm gonna teach you what you need to know to do this job so you don't get hurt or kill someone else." He seemed grateful but he dragged up about three days later. I don't know why. I really don't. I was teaching him like i said I was going to.
Lesson here is to get to know your pole partner and don't take anything for granted. I'd sure like to know how he got that ticket from Richmond. Oh, and thank you so
much Richmond for sending me a completely unqualified man to work high voltage with me. Grrr!!