Shelbyville, IL-(Effingham Radio)- Linemen from Shelby Electric Cooperative participated in the annual AIEC Lineman’s Safety Rodeo sponsored by the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives on Wednesday, Sept. 8. Seventeen teams from 13 electric co-ops, one municipal electric utility, and one team of Lincoln Land Community College linework students participated in the friendly competition. The rodeo highlights the skills linemen use to work safely and efficiently.
Nick Dunaway Brian Chevalier and Nick Ray represented Shelby Electric Cooperative (SEC) as a team and Dalton Brown and Luke Brown competed individually at the rodeo, held at the Lincoln Land Community College Lineman Training Grounds in Springfield. They competed against teams from across Illinois in events using skills that focus on agility, speed and accuracy. While these skills are part of the judging criteria, above all, participants are judged on safe work practices.
Line personnel competed in five team and individual events: a 40-foot climb, hurt man rescue, H-structure obstacle course, transformer banking and a head-to-head climbing challenge. Apprentice Lineman Dalton Brown finished in second place out of 32 competitors in the individual Transformer Trainer event. Although Construction Superintendent Brian Chevalier was competing as a SEC team member, he did end up finishing 3rd overall in the individual event scoring.
Scores for each event are based on completion time, proper execution of the task and safety. Deductions were made to a team or individual’s overall performance score due to mistakes such as slipping when climbing poles, dropping tools or executing inappropriate procedures or methods.
Congratulations to our linemen on their team and individual efforts and to all who participated in the Rodeo.
Shelby Electric Cooperative is a member of Touchstone Energy — a national alliance of local, consumer-owned electric cooperatives providing high standards of service to members large and small. More than 700 Touchstone Energy cooperatives in 46 states deliver energy and energy solutions to more than 30 million members every day. SEC is committed to providing superior service based on four core principles: integrity, accountability, innovation and commitment to community. The co-op serves more than 10,000 meters over 2,200 miles of line in all or parts of Christian, Cumberland, Effingham, Fayette, Macon, Montgomery, Moultrie, Sangamon and Shelby counties. For more information visit shelbyelectric.coop. Like the cooperative on Facebook, facebook.com/YourCoop or search Shelby Electric Cooperative.
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