Town of Belhaven: 1st Class Lineman

Primary Responsibilities

• Provides leadership and participates in the installation and alignment of power line poles; stringing primary and secondary lines; attaching wire to insulators and cross arms; installing, repairing, and replacing cross arms, supports, insulators, lightning arresters, and fuse cutouts.
• Provides leadership and participates in the installation, construction, and repair of underground electrical systems by installing primary and secondary cables and transformers; by locating trouble spots in the cable span and taking necessary measures to excavate and correct; and by determining and replacing faulty equipment such as transformers.
• Performs a variety of construction, repair and maintenance work in response to work orders.
• Operates bucket equipment to ascend to high wires; operates line truck, trenchers and other heavy equipment.
• Participates in making energized line taps and connecting wires; handles energized aspects of system independently.
• Installs transformers, fuse cutouts, and reactors.
• Transfers wire from old poles to new poles; installs metering equipment, and transfers lines from old to new poles.
• Climbs poles when necessary; trims trees; participates in substation maintenance and circuit switching.
• Participates in trouble-shooting power outages and leading in emergency repair.
• Assists the public with information, service and problem-solving.
• Operates and maintains line truck; services truck as needed; checks and keeps equipment in good operating condition, operates trenchers, backhoes, and other light, medium, and heavy equipment.
• Participates in other departmental maintenance and repair activities as needed.

Job Requirements

• Thorough knowledge of the operation of the various trucks and equipment necessary to perform line worker tasks.
• Thorough knowledge of the tools, materials and methods used in power line construction and maintenance.
• Thorough knowledge of the hazards and safety precautions involved in power line work.
• Considerable knowledge of electrical principles and functions.
• Working knowledge of the application of information technology to the work.
• Skill in maneuvering trucks, equipment, and materials and supplies on the job sites.
• Ability and willingness to work on high voltage lines and to take precautionary measures to avoid accidents.
• Ability to perform trouble-shooting to identify and perform repairs during power outages.
• Ability to use power line tools and operate required equipment.
• Ability to understand written and oral instructions.
• Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written forms.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the public, other employees and supervisors.
• Must be able to physically perform the basic life operational functions of climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, and hearing.
• Must be able to perform heavy work exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to lift objects.
• Must possess the visual acuity to operate mobile equipment, monitor work site progress, perform skilled electrical tasks, and inspect and assemble small parts.