Difference between an Electrician and a

                            Lineworker job.

Hi, I'm Lily and this book is dedicated to my big brother Nathan, who wants to become an electrician. This is why I wanted to do some research to help my brother find the best job. 

Did you know that there are 9 different electrician jobs? Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Maintenance, Solar, Automotive, Marine, Lineworker (outside lineman, and inside lineman). That is a lot of choices.

   Electricity is not safe for kitties

        eating Christmas lights.

What is electricity? Electricity is a type of energy. There are different types of energy: Sound energy, Light energy, Heat energy, Kinetic or Movement energy, and Stored or Potential energy. 

Electricity is the flow of electrical power or charge due to movement of electrons through a conductor, like a wire. It's an invisible form of energy. Electricity is safe when used correctly, and needs to be treated with caution and respect, because it can be extremely dangerous. Electricity can cause severe injury, burns, shocks, and death by electrocution. It can even burn people's houses down. Is electricity safe for kitties? Yes, as long as they do not eat the Christmas lights!

My mom and I went to Palmetto Electric Co-op to meet up with Brooke and Chris, a lineman, to help me understand what a Cooperative is. An Electric Cooperative is a company owned by the people who use electricity from the company that provides it to homes. Palmetto Electric Co-op is a not-for-profit distribution utility company that is owned by the approximately 80,000 members it serves in Beaufort, Hampton and Jasper County. It was formed in 1940, by rural residents to help serve rural areas. The energy sources of power they use are coal, hydro, nuclear, solar and methane and is generated by Santee Cooper. They offer lots of programs that reduce rates, enhance safety and fund community services. Our community needs electricity, and they are just what we need, an amazing electric company. 

        Amazing Palmetto Electric

 Cooperative community programs

Palmetto Electric Cooperative is proud to have amazing programs to service our community, such as Operation Round Up, SC Children's Book Challenge, scholarships, sponsorships, donations, Bright Ideas, Virtual Youth Experience Environmental programs and more. We even have our own magazine, South Carolina Living! 

After our talk with Chris and Brooke, I have decided to look into "A Day in the life of a Lineman."

Fun fact, I was the cutest kid cover girl for Hilton Head magazine when I was 2 years old. 

Linemen working high voltage power lines

What is a lineman? A lineman installs and maintains high voltage power lines outside. They work mostly outdoors, working on over-head and underground power lines, substations and related equipment. Their main duties are to install, maintain, and repair transmission and distribution lines and working in all weather conditions. They have to do CPR training twice a year. It is a very physically demanding job, which would be great for my brother, since he loves going to the gym every day. But it also involves heights! I don't know if my brother is afraid of heights, but I know I am, so this wouldn't be a job for me! 

Being a lineman is a dangerous job, you never know what you will see in transformer boxes... maybe some snakes.

Every day, a lineman needs to make sure that he has the right tools. Doing his job correctly and safely, is the number one priority each day. Every day begins with a safety meeting and equipment checks, before they leave to their job sites to perform tasks like installing poles, repairing lines, or responding to power outages. Because the job is dangerous and physically demanding, safety procedures and teamwork are super important. 

Lineman Chris told me that snakes love transformers, and that he was within 3 feet of a rattlesnake once. So scary!  That is why they never rush and take their time.

         Lineman's fire-  

      resistant clothing &

       safety equipment

Linemen start their day early. They meet with their supervisor and crews, discuss safety procedures and receive the day's work assignments. Then they check all the equipment. Every day they perform pre-trip inspections on the trucks and trailers and make sure all the needed tools and materials are loaded correctly. They put their FR clothing on (fire-resistant clothing). Linemen work outside all day, so I asked if they use a lot of bug spray. It is the exact opposite, because bug spray is flammable and they could catch on fire.