Steve B.
Duration: 1 minute
Published on January 13, 2025
Our electric line crews oversee and maintain more than 3,800 miles of electric distribution lines and more than 200 miles of transmission lines in all kinds of weather conditions. Some of these lines are overhead and some underground – with each posing unique challenges and safety risks.
Thankfully, our linemen undergo years of training to refine their craft, enhance safety practices and prepare for situations when a life-threatening injury occurs. Much of this training continues throughout a lineman’s career.
New training seeks to replicate field conditions
With the arrival of a new program offered by Timpson Training, apprentices, and linemen will soon be able to practice their skills and safety techniques in a fully energized training yard – closely simulating conditions faced in the field. Until recently it was difficult to safely incorporate live electric equipment in a controlled setting. All training up until now featured de-energized equipment.
With the availability of Timpson Training’s unique technology and related curriculum, Electric Construction and Safety Specialists John Rombeck and Mario Sanchez are seizing the opportunity to keep employees and customers safe.
“Our electric line and troubleshooter employees face significant risk when they’re in the field working on high voltage equipment, and they often perform this work adjacent to customer homes and businesses. There is no room for mistakes. There are just too many variables in the field that are hard to replicate in a de-energized setting,” said Rombeck.
Ensuring safer service and employees
The Timpson system transcends a traditional training curriculum as it also includes specialized equipment that allows training yards to be energized at full primary voltage. To ensure employee safety, the equipment has several safeguards in place such as quick-acting relays, extremely low amperage, and remote shutoffs to eliminate the risk for arc flash injuries during training.
“We believe we have some of the most skilled and committed apprentices, linemen and troubleshooters in the industry,” said Rombeck. “So, it’s up to the training and safety teams to reinforce that commitment through training programs that foster forward-thinking, sustainable and repeatable safe work behaviors. Ultimately, this means a safer and more reliable system for customers.”
According to Rombeck, Timpson equipment will be installed at our Leon Young Service Center training yard on Hancock Avenue in the coming weeks. The program will formally launch by March 2025.