Electrical Powerline and Cable Worker

Job Overview

You have climbed to the top of your trade. Literally. You can be seen scaling the tall power line poles that bring power to industrial facilities. The opposite is also true. Sometimes, you can be found crouched in confined spaces, such as trenches and tunnels, installing power lines, cables and other equipment. During the construction of energy facilities and pipelines, you ensure their significant power requirements are met. Are you charged up to play a part?

Electrical powerline and cable workers work with crew members from other professions, such as electricians, to construct, maintain and repair the overhead and underground electrical power transmission and distribution systems that make up the electrical power grid. During the construction of energy facilities and pipelines, these workers ensure the significant power requirements of these projects are met.

Whether scaling power line poles or crouching in confined spaces, electrical powerline and cable workers place a high value on personal safety and the safety of those around them. They spend a great deal of time outdoors and travel to remote parts of the country, sometimes by helicopter, where power generation plants and new facilities are located.

I'm interested in a career in

Sub-sector Pipelines, Oil sands
Environment Primarily outdoor work
Average Salary $69,000 to $101,000
Education High school diploma

In this occupation activities may include:

Travelling in trucks, helicopters and planes to inspect lines for freedom from obstruction and adequacy of insulation
Erecting and maintaining steel, wood, or concrete poles, towers and guy wires
Installing, maintaining and repairing electrical distribution and transmission systems, including conduits, cables, wires and related equipment, such as transformers, circuit breakers and switches
Laying underground cable directly in trenches, or stringing it through conduit running through the trenches
Inspecting and testing power lines and auxiliary equipment to locate and identify problems using reading and testing instruments

Education

A high school diploma (or equivalent) is typically required.

Certifications

Standard and emergency first aid
Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
Fall protection
Construction Safety Training System (CSTS)
Confined Space entry

Licensing

Completion of a provincial three- or four-year lineman/women apprenticeship program is required to become a certified tradesperson. Another route into apprenticeship training is a pre-apprenticeship foundation program.
The Red Seal endorsement is the interprovincial standard of excellence, and is available to tradespersons upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.

Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:

Minimal or no travel
Primarily outdoor work
Physical work
Safety-sensitive environment
Work away from home/in camps

Your skills include problem solving, teamwork and physical strength.

Building and construction
Active listening
Selecting equipment
Installing equipment
Attention to detail
Public safety and security
Critical thinking
Quality control analysis
Repairing machines and systems
Analyzing systems

Sub-sector Construction
Environment Primarily outdoor work
Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
Education High school diploma
Skills Upgrading None
Direct
Good news! The nature of work as an electrical powerline and cable worker in the industrial construction and maintenance industry is very similar to oil and natural gas. The skills and qualifications are directly transferable.