DLC & IBEW Local 29 Rodeo Highlights the Power of Lineworkers
Events promote friendly competition and allow for educational opportunities in local communities
The next time you flip on a light switch, think of the technical skill, safety and dedication it takes to keep your house powered.
Lineworkers had the opportunity to show off those talents recently as Duquesne Light Company hosted the DLC and IBEW Local 29 Lineworkers Rodeo, showcasing their ability to perform field tasks as quickly and accurately as possible, while keeping safety the top priority.
Lineworkers are uniquely qualified to safely deliver power to the community thanks to years of dedication to intense training and the continuous growth of their broad skillsets in the field. The rodeo is a unique opportunity to see what they do — and the risks they take — for the Pittsburgh region on a daily basis.
The Competition: Tasks of the Trade
The competition featured several high-skill, safety-focused events that test both speed and technique.
First, the Hurtman Rescue challenged teams and apprentices to quickly and safely lower an injured mannequin from a pole while following proper rescue procedures. This simulates what would happen if a lineworker becomes critically injured or unconscious by testing a team’s ability to rescue them from the top of a utility pole.
The Speed Climb required participants to carefully ascend the pole with an egg in a small bag, swap bags at the top, then place the egg in their mouth and descend without breaking it. This test is another showcase of a lineworker’s balance, speed, agility and precision.
Teams also completed a conductor transfer, demonstrating coordination and proper technique in moving a conductor from one end of a pole’s crossarm to the other. Additionally, apprentices performed a high-voltage fuse changeout, using a hot stick to safely open a cutout and execute the task according to standard procedures.
The rodeo included divisions for apprentices, individuals and teams, evaluated via a 100-point system as well as speed. The three lineworkers who placed in the individual competition all scored a perfect 100%, with only one second separating first and second place.
“Centered on recognizing our operations teams, this year’s rodeo brought our lineworkers’ skill and safety-first mindset to the forefront, as they demonstrated their talents and competed for a spot at the International Lineman’s Rodeo in Kansas alongside the industry’s top performers,” said Natalie Olup, a DLC workforce development supervisor and one of the key organizers behind the event.
In October, DLC’s first-place team and the top three apprentices will advance to the International Lineman’s Rodeo, with the second-place team supporting the event as competition judges.
A Lineworker’s Impact
While the rodeo shined a spotlight on our lineworkers’ mission to keep the lights on, their network of support also plays an important role.
“It was also a day to bring our families and work families together to celebrate the dedication of our field craft workers, including our underground and substation teams, who proudly showcased their expertise, along with all the operations teams and families who power our lives every day,” said Olup.
