The Association of Illinois Electric Cooperative’s safety department facilitates the electrical distribution lineworker programs at Lincoln Land Community College (LLCC) in Springfield. Through the LLCC program and the Illinois Rural Electric Apprentice Program (IREAP), students and cooperative employees receive valuable education.
The fall semester of line school kicked off on Sept. 5 with a two-week climbing school. During the second week, linework student Breyden Hamilton broke a school record for pole-top rescue. He completed the record-breaking exercise by climbing to the top of the utility pole and rescuing the “hurt lineworker” in 1 minute and 12 seconds, all while following safe work practices.
Cooperative and municipal employees attend the IREAP program to obtain the skills necessary to achieve journeyman lineworker status. The LLCC program trains students to become lineworkers, and attendees can obtain an associate degree, if desired.
Fall line schools include a two-week climbing school and one-week classes in first-year distribution, second-year distribution, advanced distribution, rubber gloving and underground residential distribution. It will conclude at the end of October. For more information, go to aiec.coop/departments/safety-and-training.
