This Saturday, April 18, is National Lineman Appreciation Day. Having been a career field for well over 100 years now, it’s only fitting that the over 115,000 lineworkers in the US have a day to celebrate the hard work they put in for the estimated 155,000,000 electrical customers across the country.
This celebration of the men and women who keep our power up and running has been around for several years now. On April 10, 2013, US Senate Resolution 95 set April 18 as National Lineman Appreciation Day. This was following 2012’s Hurricane Sandy, which affected 24 states across the US, downing power lines and causing some $65 billion in damage along the way. It was after this tragedy that line crews across the country stepped up in droves to help get the country running again, rebuilding the country’s power systems from the ground-up. This dedication to keeping our country moving forward is what inspired the 113th Congress to pass the bill giving us a national holiday to celebrate these invaluable professionals.
While every trade professional deserves appreciation and praise, lineworkers especially deserve a pat on the back for putting their lives at risk every day. A 2018 article listed line work as one of the most dangerous jobs in the country, based on the conditions and situations where their work calls them. With work needing to be done at all hours of the day and night, in dangerous environments and inclement weather, line crews risk their own safety daily to keep power flowing into our homes and businesses.
Make sure to reach out to the lineworkers in your life and thank them for all the hard work they put in day after day (#thankalineman)! On a related note, keep your eyes peeled for something special on our social media, coming this weekend…