Life Of A Linesman: PECO Holds Training For New Workers
PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. (CBS) -- When the power goes out, PECO linesworkers go up. Right now, PECO is training about a dozen new linesworkers to scale power poles safely and efficiently. And for those training, it's safe to say, it's best not to be scared of heights.
"The majority of people that dropped out are because of height issues," said linesman Joe McKay.
The line school is part of a 42-month apprenticeship. 13 weeks are dedicated to learning how to scale power poles, and it can be a tough job.
"In the line school you're going to run into a lot of bruises and contusions. Blisters are big on the hands and on the legs," said McKay.
CBS3 Reporter Greg Argos was able to participate in some of the training, under the watchful eye of First Class Linesman Eric Sanchez
"I've been doing this since 1994, and when the lights go out, we put them back on that's about it," he said.
Sanchez says the most difficult part of training to be a linesman is to forget what you've been doing for years; walking on two feet.
"You are no longer going to walk on your two feet. You understand me? The only thing you're going to walk on any more are those two spikes at the end your boots," he explained.
It's exhausting work, even on a day with great weather. Most linesmen work in adverse conditions.
"They're all the conditions you see when you look out the windows when your lights go out. That's when we're working," said Sanchez.
