Over the last 14 years, Journeyman Lineworker RaeLynn Hawco has traveled across North America to work in the line trade. Along the way, she has met great people, worked in amazing places and faced new challenges that helped her to grow on and off the job site. “One of the coolest things about working in the line trade is getting to see parts of the country that most people never get to experience,” said Hawco, a power line technician (PLT) for Midlite Construction LP in Woodlands, Manitoba, Canada.

She has also discovered that at the end of the day — no matter where she is working — lineworkers have the same goal: to work safely and keep the lights on for the communities they serve.

“We work hard, look out for each other and take pride in the work we do every day,” she said. “The friendships, teamwork and sense of accomplishment that come with this trade are what make it so rewarding, and that’s something lineworkers everywhere can relate to. Being a lineworker is an incredible career no matter where you live.”

Jimmy Marinus, field team leader and “linesman” for Powerlines Hawke’s Bay Ltd. in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, agreed. He has been in the trade for 24 years and enjoys serving his community.

“At the end of the day, we all do the same job in different parts of the world,” he said. “Just because it looks different doesn’t mean it’s wrong or unsafe.”

While lineworkers globally go by different job titles, adhere to varying grid standards and employ diverse work practices, when you get down to it, they are all the same, said Liam White, an OHL (overhead line) engineer for National Grid in Skelton Grange, Leeds, United Kingdom. “We work hard, play hard and are top people,” he said.

White, whose son is also in the line trade, said every day is different due to varying weather conditions and job sites and locations, and he enjoys the team dynamic and bantering with the other crew members. “Working on a tower is the best office in the world, when it is not raining or blowing a gale,” White said.

Around the globe, lineworkers are constructing and maintaining infrastructure to power their communities. In the United States alone, more than 120,000 work as power line installers and repairers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In North America, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) supports 250,000 utility and natural gas workers through 433 local unions.

Here is a look at lineworkers around the world, from Canada to England to New Zealand, and how they are keeping the lights on and the power flowing for their communities.

Traveling Through North America: Rae-Lynn Hawco of Midlite Construction LP

Hawco has worked in unique and challenging environments across Canada — from the mountainous winter terrain of the Yukon to the extreme weather conditions of British Columbia to the zig-zagging power line routes spanning Ontario’s countless lakes and waterways to Alberta’s oil sands.

“Each region brings its own challenges, requiring crews to adapt to different weather conditions, terrain and construction methods,” she said. “Whether it’s harsh winter conditions, remote access, difficult terrain or long hours during emergency response, lineworkers need to be prepared to respond safely and efficiently.”

She has had the opportunity to work on transmission and distribution projects and help with heli-stringing projects across Canada, where she said the future of the line trade in her country is bright. As the demand for reliable power continues to grow, she expects it to create lots of opportunities for skilled lineworkers to help build, maintain and improve the country’s electrical system.

During her career in the line trade, she has had the opportunity to respond to storms not only in Canada, but also in the United States. For example, she said one of the most memorable experiences of her career was traveling to Louisiana to help with hurricane restoration efforts. While seeing the amount of damage left behind by the storm was eye-opening, she said it was also incredible to see lineworkers from all over come together to restore power and rebuild communities.

“We worked long days in challenging conditions, but everyone was focused on the same goal — restoring power for people who needed it,” she said. “That experience taught me the importance of teamwork, adaptability and staying positive under pressure. More than anything, it reminded me why I’m proud to be a lineworker and how rewarding it is to help people when they need it most.”

From her experience working in the United States during storm restoration, she learned the job is similar, but the biggest difference is the terrain. Each area comes with its own challenges and requires different equipment and construction methods, and she has discovered a mix of wood and steel poles and transmission towers on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border.

“One of the coolest parts of the trade is all the different equipment we get to work with,” she said. “Whether we’re building new power lines, maintaining existing infrastructure or responding to an outage, having the right equipment on hand is a huge part of the job. That’s one of the things I love about line work — every day is different, and there’s always something new to learn.”
She said the line trade is changing all the time, and new technology is helping her and the other PLTs to work smarter and safer. One of the biggest advancements is the use of drones for inspections, she said.

“Instead of putting workers in hard-to-reach areas, drones can quickly inspect power lines and equipment while keeping people out of harm’s way,” she said. “We’re also using better communication tools, GPS technology, digital paperwork and upgraded equipment that help crews stay connected and work more efficiently. These tools allow us to spot problems faster, plan jobs better and respond more quickly during outages and storm restoration.”

Even with all the new technology, however, she said nothing replaces good training, experience and teamwork.

“The best tool on any job site is still a crew that communicates well and looks out for each other,” she said. “Technology helps make our jobs safer and more efficient, but at the end of the day, it’s the people behind the tools who get the work done and keep the lights on.”

For example, in addition to her powerline qualifications, she also holds a crane operator apprenticeship and a Class 1 license, which has allowed her to broaden her skill set and contribute in a variety of roles across projects. At Midlite, she’s had the opportunity to work in materials, QA/QC and now Health and Safety.

Today, her key responsibilities focus on supporting crews, improving safety processes and helping to build a stronger and safer workplace.

“Moving into Health & Safety felt like the right next step for me because it gives me the opportunity to support crews and help make the job safer for everyone,” she said. “My goal is to be the safety person I wish I had when I was working on the tools as a linewoman —someone who understands the realities of the job, listens to concerns and helps crews find solutions that work in the field. No matter where my career takes me, I’ll always stay connected to the line trade,” she said. “It’s an industry I’m passionate about and one I will never leave behind.”

Powering the United Kingdom: Liam and Callum White, a Father-and-Son Duo from National Grid

Thousands of miles away from Canada, White has spent the last 36 years working in the line trade for National Grid in Skelton Grange, Leeds, United Kingdom. During his career, he has served as a “linesman,” SAP development engineer, OHL trainer, OHL engineer and team engineer and responded to his share of storms.

“They seem to get worse every year,” he said. “National Grid’s transmission system is built to last, but when there are emergencies, we all pull together and do what’s required.”

To safeguard the field workforce, National Grid offers annual tower rescue and First Aid training and equips its field workforce with PPE. For example, lineworkers wear helmets, steel-toe boots, orange high-vis overalls, work gloves and safety glasses. While working at height, they also don harnesses and use the Step-Safe double lanyard, work positioning lanyard and tower rescue kits.

White, who has spent nearly four decades in the line trade, is looking forward to retiring in the near future and watching his son, Callum, progress in the trade. With nearly four decades in the trade, he plans to retire in the near future.

"I am looking forward to watching him have a long and fulfilled career, just like I’ve had, and be part of a team transforming the United Kingdom’s electricity transmission infrastructure,” he said.

Four years ago, he encouraged his son to go down the same career path and become a lineworker through the apprenticeship scheme. National Grid offers a three-year-long OHL apprenticeship program with the first year at National Grid’s training facility learning basics and fundamentals. During the second and third year, apprentices spend more time gaining on-the-job experience with their “base team.”

During his three-year OHL advanced apprenticeship, Callum learned the basics of overhead lines and spent time at the National Grid Training Centre at Eakring in Nottinghamshire, where he studied and completed a level 3 subsidiary diploma in power network while learning maintenance techniques from skilled OHL trainers.

Since he started at the utility, National Grid has shortened the apprenticeship from three years to two-and-a-half years. After completing their apprenticeship and working full-time with their base team, they can become a full-fledged journeyman lineworker, also known as a “linesman,” and earn the title of “OHL craftsperson.” Eventually, they can work up to a “chargehand,” a senior craftsperson with supervisory responsibilities, similar to a foreman in the United States.

“When you become fully fledged is dependent on how much work you see and are involved in, which can vary in different regions,” Callum said. “So far, I have really enjoyed my career, especially now I am out of my apprenticeship and can continue to progress.”

He said every lineworker — whether they are up on the tower or part of a ground crew — plays a major role in making sure jobs and tasks are completed safely and to a good standard. That way, if an emergency occurs, they can act accordingly and fix damages as quickly as possible.

During storm response, as well as every day, safety in the line trade is vital, Callum said. For example, the safety rules and national safety instructions keep National Grid lineworkers safe from the system when working on or near high-voltage overhead lines. They also rely on tower and trolley rescue procedures in the event of an emergency when they need to rescue someone safely during a worst-case scenario. The lineworkers adhere to working procedures outlined in the “M1 manual,” which consists of proven and tested working procedures for daily maintenance.

To perform their work in the field, they rely on a variety of different equipment and vehicles, including trucks with a capstan winch for lifting and lowering gear. They also stock their trucks with a tower rescue kit, ropes and rope blocks, lifting equipment and site demarcation to establish a work area and danger zone. In addition, they rely on temporary, portable earthing leads called “drain earths,” available from companies such as P&B Weir Electrical and CATU Electrical, to safely discharge electrical energy to earth and protect workers from induced high voltages.

While the work can be challenging, Liam said he enjoys working outside and traveling to different places as an OHL craftsperson. He also said line work is a mentally rewarding job when he and his crew members complete work and tasks to good standards.

Over the next 15 years, he is looking forward to being a part of the major projects underway in his service territory and the construction of the “T3,” which will go on for the next five years. He also plans to progress to higher levels within OHL when the time is right.

“There are lots of opportunities for progression, and my plans for the future are to learn as much as I can and be the best lineworker I can be,” he said. “I love what I do, and I hope to have a long and successful career.”

Working in New Zealand to Competing at the Rodeo: Jimmy Marinus of Powerline Hawke’s Bay

While Liam White and his son, Callum, haven’t been to Kansas City for the International Lineman’s Week, he urged the committee to bring the event to England.

“Bring it to the UK, and we’ll show you RODEO!,” Liam said.

One lineworker from overseas who will not only attend the 2026 International Lineman’s Rodeo, but also compete, is Jimmy Marinus, field team leader and lineman for Powerlines Hawke’s Bay Ltd. in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand.
His company, along with sponsors Wagners and Mita Consulting, is supporting their trip to Kansas City, making it the first time a team from their part of the world is competing at the International Lineman’s Rodeo.

“We had some amazing help from our sponsors, and without that help, this wouldn’t be possible,” he said. “I think it’s safe to say we will be the team who will be traveling the furthest from New Zealand to Kansas. We are looking forward to representing New Zealand on the international stage and doing ourselves proud.”

Marinus will be competing with Pomare Samupo, a lineman, and Zane Berge, who will act as a groundman. Their manager, Haden Anderson, will also be supporting the crew from the sidelines. “We’ve been quietly training for the events now for a month or so,” he said. “There’s a lot to learn and get used to as some of the work practices are completely different from how we do them at home.”

“We prepare the best we can, and once the storm hits and the dust settles, it’s all hands on deck to get the network back up and running and the customers reconnected,” he said. “No matter where you go, there is a huge emphasis on safety, and that is at the forefront of what we do.”

While Marinus has worked on many different storms, one stands out in his memory — a huge snowstorm in the central North Island in 2016. This storm took down several poles, crossarms and conductor, and one area had nearly 300 poles down.

“These jobs are always interesting as there are crews from different companies and areas working together,” he said. “It really brings out the best in the industry.”

Safety is often a top priority when it comes to storm response and the day-to-day work in the field. As health and safety evolve, so do the responsibilities on the people out in the field. “We place a big emphasis on making sure we leave the job site safe,” he said. “We make sure what work we have done is in a safe state, that the public doesn’t get hurt and what we’ve done is checked and inspected.”

After they top out, they often go by the job title of “line mechanic” in New Zealand, but the terms “lineman” or “linesman” get used as well, Marinus said. He said he has been in the trade for 24 years and landed in the career by luck.

“When I was in high school, a careers teacher told me about a job vacancy she’d seen in the local newspaper for an apprentice lineman at a local contracting company,” he said. “I had no idea what the job was, let alone heard about a lineman before. She helped me to create a CV and prepped me for the interview. The rest is history.”

Marinus said he’s been fortunate enough to come through the trade at a time when there was a lot of opportunity to travel. “The trade has taken me from New Zealand to the UK and Ireland to Australia as well as Fiji,” he said. “My journey has seen me go from an apprentice to a lineman, from a lineman to a foreman, then to a trainer and now a contracting company owner.”

A few of the biggest rewards of working in the line trade in New Zealand are the people in the industry, the trucks and equipment he gets to operate and drive and seeing places some people don’t even know exist.

At the same time, he said one of the major challenges facing New Zealand is staff retention. Due to the cost of living, a lot of people in the trade are looking at alternatives overseas, he said. Like in other parts of the world, the country is also experiencing advancements with AI and robotics.

While it’s challenging to predict the future for the line trade, he said he plans to enjoy it while he can. He said while line work may look different around the globe, lineworkers all have a similar mission.

“I love the trade and the people in it,” he said. “That’s why I think it’s important that what we do while we are at work is to the best of our ability in order to get everyone back home safely to their families.”