Recently, crews at Turlock Irrigation District (TID) participated in a comprehensive Pole Top Refresher Training, rotating through four critical rescue scenarios designed to keep skills sharp and muscle memory fresh:
- Self-rescue from a bucket
- Rescuing a worker from a pole
- Rescuing a worker from a tower
- Rescue from an underground vault
Rather than rotating crews through stations individually, TID brought everyone together for the training — an approach that reinforced teamwork alongside lifesaving skills.
“We used to rotate crews through individually to do the training, but now we do it all together,” said Cody Sanders, Electrical Linemen. “It’s a good team-building activity in addition to required safety training.”
That emphasis on readiness matters. These are skills workers hope they never need — but must be able to execute instantly and correctly when something goes wrong.
“Knowing how to self-rescue out of the bucket is critical,” said John Damasm, Electrical Linemen. “If you don’t have your gear just right, you can end up jarring your body or getting stuck.”
Throughout the day, crews moved deliberately, checked one another’s setups, and talked through each scenario, reinforcing that safety is never a solo effort. And true to form, there were plenty of jokes about “training for the rodeo.” Fitting for crews whose skills have earned them top honors at the International Lineman’s Rodeo.
At the end of the day, the takeaway was clear: when emergencies happen, preparation, teamwork, and practiced skill are what bring everyone home safely.
-Jessica Stillwell, IBEW 1245 Business Representative