2025 Safety Conference: Bringing Lineworkers Home to Their Loved Ones

The one-and-a-half-day safety and training conference shared strategies on how lineworkers can focus on self-preservation, mental health and safety in line work.

Oct. 21, 2025

2 min read

Students, apprentices, journeymen lineworkers and safety supervisors packed the conference room at the Overland Park Convention Center during the annual International Lineman's Rodeo Safety and Training Conference. This year, the message to the lineworkers was clear: work safely in the field so you can come home to your families every night.

Dale Warman, one of the founders of the International Lineman's Rodeo more than 40 years ago, kicked off the conference with a personal story about how the competition has focused on safety from the start. As such, the conference is a way to keep safety top of mind throughout the International Lineman's Rodeo Week.

The one-and-a-half day conference, sponsored by NECA and IBEW Locals 47, 88 and 304, focused on self-preservation in the line trade. The event kicked off with a personal injury story from Lito Wilkins of Leading Safe Lineworkers, followed by the presentation, "Protection Under the Hard Hat: Mental Health and Safety in the Power Industry," by Jennifer Lavin of Union Care Solutions.

The attendees could also learn about military veterans in the line trade, safety and resiliency, fall protection, stored energy tree removal, head protection, pre-job safety briefings and AED programs.

Throughout the conference, the International Lineman's Rodeo Association (ILRA) safety committee gave out prizes to the attendees. The participants could register for the prizes by scanning a QR code during registration to win everything from a golf club to a Milwaukee tool set and more.

This photo gallery shares a glimpse of the conference that unfolded before the start of the International Lineman's Expo. For more information, check out the Lineman's Rodeo coverage in the December print issue of T&D World. You can also stay tuned to the Line Life Podcast to hear interviews with Jennifer Lavin, Edward Finnegan and Rustin Owen. Thanks for listening!