The Qualified Eyes Upon Us: A Reflection on Responsibility, Readiness, and Resolve In the world of electric power generation, transmission, and distribution, every arc, every switch, every climb carries weight not only in voltage but in responsibility. The title Qualified Employee is not a badge of seniority; it’s a declaration of knowledge, competence, and courage. A qualified employee is more than someone who knows how to do the work it’s someone who understands why the work must be done safely. OSHA defines this person as one knowledgeable in the construction and operation of the electric power generation, transmission, and distribution equipment involved, along with the associated hazards. That definition doesn’t just live on paper; it lives in the field, in the quiet hum of a substation, in the measured steps across an energized right-of-way, and in the judgment that separates routine from risk. Who’s Watching Us “Who’s watching us?” isn’t a question of surveillance… it’s a question of integrity. The eyes upon us are many: • The apprentice looking for example, • The journeyman measuring trust, • The safety professional ensuring compliance, • The public depending on our power to stay on and our crews to come home. Each one expects that we embody the standard. That we are qualified, not just experienced. Because experience without understanding is exposure, and exposure without control is a hazard waiting to happen. Training and Truth OSHA reminds us that qualification is not a one-time certificate. It’s a continual demonstration. An employee must have the training required by §1926.950(b)(2) to be a qualified employee. Training isn’t a checkbox. It’s the ongoing rhythm of learning, mentoring, and testing the boundaries of what we know against what could hurt us. It’s the apprentice, under supervision, showing that they can perform at their level safely, confidently, and consistently. An employee undergoing on-the-job training who has demonstrated the ability to perform duties safely under the direct supervision of a qualified person is a qualified person for those duties.

An old Lineman told me this about Safety Meetings: The reason they have Safety Meetings is not to make you a better, safer Lineman. It is to protect them from you when the law suit comes down after your injury. They can prove that they did all they could to train you. Don't depend on them, you have to look out for yourself!

Kevin , been through a couple of episodes your talking about, and that was 45 years and some ago, we take a while to get to even talking about this side of storm chasing, but yet usually at the end the inevitable happens and we go to another funeral Still a lot of strategy to review for these situations, storm chasing but you hit it on the head , just needs to get to the right heads!!

I'd love to hear from the group. Now the majority of this page its discussed about how the industry has slipped a little due to the introduction of college certed individuals policing and policies an electrical industry they dont fully understand. My question is- If "John Lineman" has his ticket was verifiably trained (Apprenticeship + records+ curriculum+ Verified On the job hours) is he Qualified or Competent.. *Osha says anyone checking those boxes of verified training metrics and the knowledge checks is deemed qualified.... NOW, We take "Bill the MFJL" Whoms paper trail includes Groundhand/Operator for 5+ years -insert magic wave of a wand-- POOF Bill is a JL and companies dont verify <Compliance to training regulations, History of individual, no knowledge checks> TEST QUESTION IS: ONLY select one. Is Bill in the above Paragraph? A) Qualified B) Competent C) Both A and B D) Someone who bought their ticket and should have an *** placed beside their name and not allowed Apprentice training privileges until all criteria of training and proof of On the Job competency being met along with knowledge checks. We worry about our industry rightfully so. Many of us this is what we know. We love it to the fullest maybe to strong. Shamefully the answer above is most often wrong. Safety departments isn't the only cog in the machine with a tooth missing. I now know 8+ individuals that are either crew leds or General Foreman or daily MFJLs that did not pull one day outside of pulling levers on a digger or excavator or shoveling or running a hand line. Curious is all 🤙 Daniel Cooper, CUSP,CSP