Linemen from OUC – The Reliable One won First Place Overall in the 12th annual Florida Lineman Competition in Gainesville on Saturday, March 30. Hosted by the Florida Municipal Electric Association, the contest featured more than 100 linemen from 16 municipal utilities throughout the state. OUC’s winning team included Line Technicians James Alexander, Richard Boley and Chris Hosier. The team placed either first or second in four different events to win the title.
“These are the best of the best and they truly represent the dedication it takes to have not just the physical endurance to do this, but also the mental resolve to perform these difficult tasks quickly and safely,” OUC Energy Delivery Vice President Clint Bullock said.
The Florida Lineman Competition is a venue for linemen to practice and showcase their skills to friends and families. The event is similar to a rodeo and is based on tasks that linemen must know how to do — like changing insulators and fuses atop electric utility poles. For example, in the “hurt-man event,” participants must rescue a 180-pound mannequin from the top of a utility pole to demonstrate skills in safely helping an injured co-worker. OUC’s top team finished first in the 88-kilovolt (kV) Insulator Change and second in the Mystery Event (Wire Tie In), Vertical Hurtman Rescue and Journeyman Cut-Out and Arrestor events.
“We take our job seriously and many of us consider what we do a public service,” said Lead Line Technician Chris Wohlfart, a 25-year lineman and former competitor who served as a judge this past weekend. “We all have strong bonds because we’re united by our skills, hard work and dedication – and this competition showcases our abilities.”
To see an example of their training expertise, download an HD video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URKTYAYXKyU
