Your Energy Resource Lineman Lessons

Stay safe by staying in your lane

Power poles can't get out of your way. That statement probably comes across as pretty obvious, right? Well, we'd be inclined to agree with you if not for the fact that we're having to replace broken power poles almost weekly due to vehicles colliding with them.

Fixing poles is part of our job, and in the grand scheme of things, it's just wood and wire - nothing that can't be replaced.

However, poles aren't the only thing getting lost in these accidents. Lives are, too. And sadly, there's absolutely nothing we can do to reverse that damage.

So, forgive us if we sound like a broken record, but given the amount of accidents we're seeing lately, this is something that can't be overstated.

Distracted driving has become an epidemic in our communities. These days, training for Baldwin EMC's line crews now includes an extensive focus on situational awareness, because it's not just our poles that are at risk from impaired and distracted motorists. So are we. Not only do we have to be extremely attentive to the job we're doing, we also have to keep a close watch on our surroundings. We have to be one step ahead of drivers entering our work zones.

And for what it's worth, thanks to inflation, the equipment we're having to replace again and again, such as poles and transformers, are more expensive than ever. Our ability to get the most out of the lifespan of that equipment contributes to how stable Baldwin EMC can keep its rates.

The good news is that most accidents involving power poles can be avoided if drivers follow basic traffic safety laws, including speed limits, and stay alert at all times while behind the wheel.

Baldwin EMC’s power poles and other equipment, such as pad mounted transformers, are installed a safe distance from the road, so as to not impede the flow of traffic. So staying safe is as simple as this: Keep your head up and your hands on the steering wheel. Keep your eyes and your vehicle on the road. Keep yourself, your linemen, and those power poles safe.

Tips From The Green And Tan

You can help reduce outages, make a lineman's job easier and stay safe with these tips.

Let us be your energy information resource. Go to www.baldwinemc.com or follow us on social media for more news you can use.

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Power poles aren't in your way.

We have strict safety codes that tell us how close power poles can be to roadways. Trust us when we say it's not close at all. We leave lots of room for traffic to flow unobstructed by power poles. And when roads are widened, poles are moved. Stay in your lane, and you and the poles never have to meet.

Power poles can't get out of your way.

This might seem obvious. But based on some of the accidents we've seen, it seems like some drivers believed that pole they were headed for would somehow dodge their vehicle. Spoiler alert: they never do. Poles can't get out of your way, they can only break. And when they break, people get hurt, power goes out, and we have to replace that pole at the expense of the driver who caused the accident. Don't be that driver. Poles aren't cheap.

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Keep your head up and your eyes on the road.

It's not complicated, but it could save your life and spare our power poles and other equipment. Do yourself, your neighbors, your family and your linemen a favor: watch where you're going.