Lineman are first responders
Well not officially, at least not yet but come on, is it really a debate. I am sure we would all agree that what Lineworkers do for us all after a major weather event is lifesaving. EMT’s save lives more than a police officer typically does but we don’t classify them differently because of it, they serve a role in protecting and sustaining life as we know it.
Police, Medical, Firefighters, and Lineman are the very first to arrive in a devastated area supplying critical support for those in need. They put themselves in harm’s way for the greater good of others even with all the associated risks. The logistics in getting our first responders into an area can be a challenge but their official title recognized by everyone allows for less resistance. Cooperation from the general public is abundant and allows these responders to respond faster.
There are many ways a first responder saves lives, sometimes it's directly while other times its in supporting roles assisting in critical aspects of the response. Electricity is a major component to this response and it does in fact save lives. Hospitals, nursing homes, care centers, and essential supply chains rely on this power to keep people alive and healthy. You may say that these facilities all have adequate generator backups but that is not always the case and many times these systems are damaged during the storm.
Lineman have a dangerous job as it is, risking life and limb every day to maintain the nations power grids. They go through extensive training for several years to learn the required skills to do the work safely and effectively. Everything from CPR/AED training to pole top rescues, these men and woman go through tremendous preparation just for their normal work, and then you have a storm call. This is the most dangerous work a lineman will do, with all of the unforeseen variables and inclement conditions, lineman risk more during these times than they ever will in their careers.
So yes, Lineman are first responders and should be recognized as such. More people need to stand behind the Lineman Legacy Act, this bill is in the first stage of the legislative process. It was introduced into Congress on February 23, 2021 and was sponsored by Senator John Kennedy. I will put a link below for those interested in the progress of this bill but I believe we need to be proactive about pushing this topic. This will not change unless its openly supported by the majority and we can influence how this plays out.
Until this is official, our company will remain in support of the title and continue to showcase this on all of our trucks and company apparel. We represent our employees and the IBEW Lineman community with pride and we will always see them for what they really are, genuine first responders.
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https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/BILLS-117s398is