(uskings.us) National Lineman Appreciation Day on April 18th honors the men and women who work around the clock to keep the power going.  If the power is on where you are reading this article, you likely have a lineman to thank. 

From the power plant, the grid crisscrossing the country both above and underground and right up to the meters on your homes, these men and women build and maintain the system that keeps nation running.

When mother nature destroys what our linemen have built up, they are on call to build it back up again as quickly as possible. These men and women work tirelessly to get emergency systems back in working order and urgently return service to remaining areas. Even when there is no crisis, they work under dangerous conditions on a daily basis. Whether they are working in trenches, near water or on high towers, the risks are extreme.

This celebration of the men and women who keep our power up and running has been around for several years now. On April 10, 2013, US Senate Resolution 95 set April 18 as National Lineman Appreciation Day. This was following 2012’s Hurricane Sandy, which affected 24 states across the US, downing power lines and causing some $65 billion in damage along the way.

It was after this tragedy that line crews across the country stepped up in droves to help get the U.S running again, rebuilding the country’s power systems from the ground-up. This dedication to keeping the country moving forward is what inspired the 113th Congress to pass the bill giving the Americans a national holiday to celebrate these invaluable professionals.

While every trade professional deserves appreciation and praise, lineworkers especially deserve a pat on the back for putting their lives at risk every day. A 2018 article listed line work as one of the most dangerous jobs in the country, based on the conditions and situations where their work calls them. With work needing to be done at all hours of the day and night, in dangerous environments and inclement weather, line crews risk their own safety daily to keep power flowing into Americans homes and businesses.

According to nationaldaycalendar.com; kleintools.com