Electrical Power Line and Cable Workers

HOW TO GET THERE

Typical pathway

A typical path starts in secondary school with math, physics, drafting, and shop or electrical classes. After graduation, students often look for entry-level work, a pre-employment program, or employer training in power line or cable work, depending on the employer or province. Many workers then learn through on-the-job training and supervised experience, using tools, test equipment, and safety procedures while helping install, inspect, and repair overhead and underground lines, poles, transformers, and street lighting. Some employers may prefer related technical study or previous construction or utility experience, but routes can vary.

THE WORK

What you may do

Legacy duties

• Install, maintain, troubleshoot and repair electrical distribution and transmission systems including overhead and underground power lines and cables, insulators, conductors, lightning arrestors, switches, transformers and other associated equipment
• Erect and maintain steel, wood or concrete poles, towers and guy wires
• Splice, solder and insulate conductors and related wiring to connect power distribution and transmission networks using splicing tools, related electrical equipment and tools
• Inspect and test overhead and underground power lines and cables and auxiliary equipment using electrical test equipment
• Climb ladders or operate hydraulic buckets when working aloft on poles and towers, or work in confined spaces such as trenches and tunnels to install power lines and cables and associated equipment
• Install and maintain street lighting systems
• Communicate with other workers to co-ordinate the preparation and completion of work assignments.

SKILLS TO BUILD

Skills used in this Career