Our problem or question is How Does Being A Powerline Technician Affect The Human Body?

 

We did not preform a scientific method because our project is research.

Hypothesis:

We think that being a powerline technician has a negative effect on the body. The facts we already know about the job indicates that you may be mildly or severely electrocuted several times. So we have to conclude that it may have a serious effect on the body. Though there are very positive effects too. Such as staying healthy from being active.

Introductory paragraph:

Our topic is How does being a powerline technician affect the human body? We chose this topic because Meara’s father and uncle both worked and or work as powerline technicians. We know the job can be difficult due to the fact that you may be called to work in the middle of the night and in severe weather. It also is just the dangers of working with electricity. We’ve come to the conclusion that many people in the world do not know what powerline technicians truly do to provide light and power to our communities, and we feel it is our responsibility to inform them.

What is a powerline technician?

A powerline technician is a person that works to put up and maintain the power lines to power homes and businesses. Experienced workers typically work for large power companies such as ENMAX energy and ATCO energy. Another word for a powerline technician is Power lineman or Power Distribution lineman.

Electrical dangers!

As you may already know electricity’s goal is to ground itself. Earth is one of the biggest conductors in the universe. The human body is also a conductor. This is because your nerves, vessels, muscles, and skin are easy for electricity to travel through. This is not a good thing! 

Electricity, when inside of you will travel through the part closest to the source. The source is the wound that has touched the electricity for example if you touch an electrical wire. Though only if there is a wound will the electricity go inside you without a wound it may just damage your skin.

Electricity dangers Part two!

If the electricity does go inside of you, you will need to go to urgent care, because electricity will try to go through your bones. If bones are heated enough the tissue around it will be severely damaged with a result of a “dead limb” or amputation.

The electricity will leave your body through an exit wound usually below the knee. If wearing rubber shoes, the electricity will be unable to leave your body. Wearing rubber can prevent long lasting injuries. Powerline technicians work with these risks daily. 

Electrical injuries!

Electrical injuries are usually BURNS. There are four different types First, Second,Third, and Fourth.

1. Red or pink skin no blistering
2. Red and moist with blistering
3. Dry,tight,and leathery,brown/tan/waxy skin
4. Black and charred perhaps muscle and bone involvement

There are also TRAUMATIC INJURIES! These are less common though are still huge risks for powerline technicians. There are two different types, SPINAL OR CRANIAL injuries. Both are caused by falls.

What is electricity?

Electricity is a flow of charged particles. It is highly dangerous if used  wrongly. It is a basic part of nature and one of the most widely used forms of energy. Electricity powers our light. That's why power linemans put up power lines so that homes and businesses can have light and power.

How are Powerline Technicians trained? 

Powerline technicians have many different types of training. Before they can start they have to do four years of apprenticeship with another powerline technician. After that they are part of six month program in which they: learn how to use the equipment, go up on a powerline, and go to a school to learn about electricity again.

They also do two months of training each year for a refresher. 

What equipment is used?

Powerline technicians use simple and very complicated tools. The simple tools are ones such as screwdrivers, hammers, drills, etc. The more complicated tools are ones like hydraulic bucket trucks, diggers, and tension stringing equipment.

Equipment injuries!

There are many different types of equipment used (as we’ve stated). But some equipment can cause strain on the body.  Rubber gloves are very heavy and they are a very common to cause a strain in your wrists and elbows. Though it protects you from electrical shock… it comes at a cost.

Injuries like tendonitis tend to happen from repetitive strain from using tools like pliers and presses. These injuries can be prevented by using battery or hydraulic operated tools.

What safety equipment is used?

PPE (personal protective equipment) is one of the most important things to have as a powerline technician. PPE includes: HARDSHELL HELMETS, SAFETY GOGGLES, GLOVES, AND FLAME RESISTANT UNIFORMS.

There are many guidelines to follow with your uniform (clothes tight, tucked in, working in layers, etc).

What is a substation?

 

A substation is a place where electricity travels through to get to houses. Once the electricity is in the substation a voltage drop happens so the power is safe to go into homes and businesses. 

How are substations important?

Substations are important because in the event of an emergency in which a powerline’s electricity is dangerous. Powerline technicians would send someone to a substation to D- energize the electrical current. So that it is safe to work with while bringing the powerline back up. 

Bird on a wire

You may have noticed that birds like to site on wires. The reason they don’t get electrocuted is because there is no path for the electricity to travel through, meaning there is no 2nd point of contact. Powerline technicians work safely on power lines by eliminating a 2nd point of contact.

This is done by using rubber gloves, rubber cover up, insulated tools, and insulated bucket trucks.

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

The I.B.E.W. is a union dedicated to representing workers in the electrical industry across North America.

I.B.E.W. was founded by a powerline technician named Henry Miller in 1891.  Henry formed the union to improve safety and working conditions.  He died after being electrocuted and falling from a power pole on July 10, 1896.  July 10th is recognized as National Lineworker Appreciation Day.

Analysis( How does being a powerline technician affect the Human Body? )

In answer to this big question we have realized that it has a negative effect on the human body. We’ve concluded this from our research, it shows many people who have retired from the job have knee, shoulder, and back injuries/pains. These have been caused by broken bones from falls and electric shock though there are more reasons the two of these are the most common. 

What are things powerline technicians could do to help?

Electricity companies provide safety equipment,tools, and procedures to help their workers.

Powerline technicians can do things too, such as using mechanical tools and equipment to replace doing things manually. They can also make sure to follow all safety rules. Most serious injuries are caused when powerline technicians do not follow safety rules.

Facts

- Between the 1890’s and the 1930’s about one in three powerline technicians were killed on the job. Mostly from electrocution.

- The apprentice program was started in 1930.

- Powerlines started of on trees and now have evolved into poles

-The birth of the Linemen dates to the beginning of the telegraph in the 1840s when the first lines were installed on short wood poles. 

If we had more time what would we do?

 If we did have more time and resources we feel we would have tried interviewing more than one person and would have more information from real life workers. We also could  have tried to contact a power company, to ask for their opinion on our project.

Interview with uncle

• What was the training?

• “ The first month was getting to know the tools, making sure you were comfortable with them. The other five months were learning how to climb a pole getting the right sized equipment and getting a refresher on how electricity works” “ Though before that you have to be mentored by another powerline technician for four years”- REED MACLAREN

• Do you get trained regularly as in once a year or not?

  “ Yes for two months a year we go back to “school” you could call it, basically you go and learn physics, math, and how electricity works all over again”- REED MACLAREN

  What are the requirements for being a powerline technician?

  “ You had to have a high school diploma and above 70% in physics, math, and Physical Education”- REED MACLAREN

  Have you ever been electrocuted and what does it feel like?

  “ Yes I’ve been mildly electrocuted several times. It feels a lot like having about ten bee stings at once! Though it usually only happens when you safety gear gets wet like when your working in the rain”- REED MACLAREN

  Are there different positions to working as a powerline technician?

  “ Yes and no, in Enmax energy where I work everyone does a bit of everything, but there is still above ground and below ground power lines and some people tend to choose one”-REED MACLAREN

  What are the safety precautions if something were to happen, say a snapped powerline?

  “ If an event like that were to happen, someone would go to a substation and turn of all the power in that area so that we could put the powerline back together”- REED MACLAREN

  What is a substation?

  “ A substation is a little building that can lower and increase the power so that it goes into houses safely”- REED MACLAREN

  Are there different types of power lines?

  “ No but yes, they are made out of the same material but are called different things. There are the transmission power lines and then there are distribution power lines, I think you can tell the difference”- REED MACLAREN

  What keeps you safe?

  “ Many things but the one we most use are bucket trucks, they are made out of fiberglass so that the electricity does not go through, it is a bit like when bird stand on power lines since the bird is up high the electricity won’t go through them and since the bucket truck is high the electricity won’t go through us, but again they would probably turn down the power at the substation”- REED MACLAREN

     - BUCKET TRUCK

Injuries from 1990 to 2023 excluding injuries temporary in nature (no permanent disability). Source International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Officers Report February 26, 2024. 

Injuries from 2000 to 2023 excluding injuries temporary in nature (no permanent disability). Source International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Officers Report February 26, 20024. 

Source International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Officers Report February 26, 2024.

 

Analysis( How does being a powerline technician affect the Human Body? )

In answer to this big question we have realized that it has a negative effect on the human body. We’ve concluded this from our research, it shows many people who have retired from the job have knee, shoulder, and back injuries/pains. These have been caused by broken bones from falls and electric shock though there are more reasons the two of these are the most common.

• https://burncenters.com/safety/the-short-term-and-long-term-effects-of-electric-shock-on-the-human-body/#:~:text=For%20minor%20shocks%20or%20shocks,for%20more%20severe%20electrical%20shocks.
• Maclaren, Reed. ( Jan 2nd). Invermere,British Columbia, Canada
• https://www.glassdoor.ca/Salaries/alberta-powerline-technician-salary-SRCH_IL.0,7_IS4074_KO8,28.htm
• https://tradesecrets.alberta.ca/trades-in-alberta/profiles/021/#:~:text=The%20term%20of%20apprenticeship%20for,training%20in%20the%20fourth%20year.
• https://alis.alberta.ca/occinfo/occupations-in-alberta/occupation-profiles/powerline-technician/#:~:text=The%20work%20may%20be%20strenuous,as%20manholes%20and%20underground%20vaults.
• https://lowellcorp.com/evolution-of-the-lineman/
• Dougherty, Brad ( Jan 30), Calgary, Alberta, Canada
• https://tradesecrets.alberta.ca/trades-in-alberta/profiles/021
• MicNichol, Marc (Feb 26), Washington,D.C, U.S.A., I.B.E.W. Director of Safety
• https://www.ibew.org/media-center/Articles/21Daily/2107/210708_Remarkable
• https://www.ibewcanada.ca/ibew-history/

Mr. Boissonneaul for filming video.

Ms.Stark for guiding us through the process.

Brad Dougherty for helping us find good scources of information.

Reed MacLaren for providing us with facts.

Fiona Dougherty for helping put data into charts.