NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (KNOP) – Eight years ago, a national holiday was created to recognize linemen and appreciate their daily sacrifices. In Nebraska, we honor our local lineman on April 12. Their daily contributions protect public safety as they are often in dangerous conditions.
“Most of the time we are like firefighters,” Journeyman Lineman Ray Diaz said. “Let’s say there is a burning house and people are running out and the firefighters are running in. We are kind of like that. If a storm comes up with snow blowing sideways, we are ones going out while people are going home.”
Most of their work comes from harsh weather, trees blowing over, and poles breaking. Through it all, they continue to do their duty at hand.
“When you are a lineman you have to know your job and what you are doing,” Diaz said. With that, safety is a top priority, because that is the most important thing is to go home to your families.”
Linemen work with thousands of volts of electricity, high atop power lines for 24 hours a day to keep electricity flowing to people’s homes and businesses. The work of a lineman can sometimes go unnoticed in the community and the workers do not receive recognition for what they do.
“At the end of the day, or that night, when someone flips a switch or throws on the breaker and all the lights come on. It is just a really good feeling,” Diaz said.
