A cable & line worker is a certified and trained technician who handles all installation, construction and maintenance of telecommunication cables and power lines. This task is extremely complex and requires skilled professionals who have a lot of skill & experience.
If the lines are not installed properly the communications services will be disrupted. Line & cable workers have a number of responsibilities and their job involves considerable risk. These professionals work for power and telecommunication companies and often conduct their job in teams to ensure proper safety.
What Do They Do?
These technicians rarely ever work at ground level unless they are dealing with an underground issue. They usually need to climb free-standing towers, guyed towers, monopoles or other structures for their assignments.
The tasks require physical ability and skill as all installations and repairs are conducted at heights. They usually work in a team of two, with one cable worker at the top of the pylon while the other is at the bottom supervising. Here is a list of responsibilities that a line worker handles:
- Maintaining Equipment
Telecommunication cables require repairs and maintenance frequently. Outdoor equipment is built to handle a considerable amount of wear and tear, but it does need some maintenance from time to time. Without the proper maintenance, exposure to harsh weather and debris can damage the equipment and lead to disrupted services. The job of the line worker is to assess the equipment and repair problems to ensure that the service isn’t disrupted.
- The Installation of New Equipment
Installing new equipment requires a lot of skill and expertise. It is an intricate process and must be done with extreme caution to ensure the telecommunication lines don’t get disrupted. Customers won’t get reliable services if the cables and equipment are not installed properly. In addition, the equipment will also be much more vulnerable to outdoor weather, which will lead to the need of constant repairs and excessive deterioration. The only way to avoid this issue is to through careful and meticulous installation.
- Constructing Complete Sites
Complete installation of communication systems requires careful planning to ensure all pylons and cables are placed in the best locations possible. Client requirements also have to be taken into consideration in order to provide comprehensive solutions for their telecommunication needs. A line worker and off-site engineers will work together to install communication systems according to the plan. Clients require temporary communication at times and cable workers handle these installation projects as well.
- Moving the Equipment
Many property owners leave their telecommunication systems behind when they move to a new location. But at times, the equipment has to be moved as well. A cable worker carefully dismantles the system, transports all its components and reassembles it at the new location. This process requires meticulous planning and isn’t easy to do. This makes it important to hire line workers who are qualified to complete this process.
- Dismantling Sites
If a land is being repurposed, the telecommunication equipment standing there must be dismantled and removed completely. A team of cable workers will conduct this job and ensure that none of the equipment gets damaged during the process.
- Installing Markers
The team of workers will install markers at appropriate locations. A collaboration of different teams is required to complete this task.
Installation and maintenance of PCS, Iden, LTE, HSPA SMALL CELL, GPS and CDMA antennas and lines are handled by line workers.
As you can see, cable and line workers have a very important job as they ensure that the telecommunication equipment is functioning as it should. Without them, the communication lines will eventually start to experience problems and can even stop working.
