Overview:
Power line installers and repairers—commonly known as linemen—rank among the most dangerous occupations in the United States due to high-voltage electrical exposure, work at height, severe weather conditions, and emergency response demands. This article examines why line work is so hazardous, why it is often perceived as the most dangerous job, and why fatality data places other occupations above it.
Power line installers and repairers—commonly known as linemen—keep the lights on when everything goes wrong. From hurricanes and ice storms to wildfires and heat waves, linemen are often first in and last out, restoring power under extreme pressure. Their work is undeniably dangerous, and it consistently ranks among the most hazardous occupations in the United States.
So why isn’t it ranked #1?
That question comes up every time this list is published—and it deserves a clear, data-backed answer.
Why Line Work Is So Dangerous
Linemen work around high-voltage electricity, often at height, frequently in bad weather, and sometimes in disaster zones. The margin for error is extremely small.
Key danger factors include:
- High-voltage electrical exposure, capable of causing instant fatal injury
- Work at height, using poles, towers, and bucket trucks
- Severe weather, including storms, ice, heat, and wind
- Emergency response conditions, often with long shifts and fatigue
- Heavy equipment, cranes, lifts, and tensioned lines
During large outages, linemen may work 16-hour shifts for days or weeks, compounding risk through exhaustion.
Common Risks and Fatal Injuries
Accidents in line work are often severe and unforgiving:
- Electrocution, the most well-known risk
- Falls, from poles, towers, or buckets
- Struck-by incidents, involving vehicles or falling equipment
- Burns and arc flashes, from electrical faults
- Vehicle accidents, while traveling between sites
Despite this, line crews operate with an exceptionally high level of technical discipline and safety culture.
Why Linemen Aren’t Ranked #1 (The Honest Answer)
Here’s the part people argue about—and here’s what the data shows.
1. Fatality Rates Are Lower Than Perceived
While line work is extremely dangerous, other jobs have higher fatality rates per 100,000 workers, particularly:
- Logging
- Commercial fishing
- Certain forms of mining
Those jobs combine environmental chaos with fewer engineered safeguards.
2. Safety Protocols Are Extremely Strong
Line work is governed by:
- Strict lockout/tagout procedures
- Redundant safety checks
- Advanced protective equipment
- Mandatory training and certification
Electric utilities invest heavily in safety because mistakes are catastrophic—and preventable.
3. Risk Is Controlled, Not Random
In logging or fishing, hazards come from unpredictable natural forces—falling trees, waves, weather shifts.
In line work, danger is intense but proceduralized. Electricity behaves predictably when systems are followed.
4. Injury Counts vs. Exposure Time
Truck drivers and sanitation workers, for example, spend thousands more hours per year exposed to public traffic, which dramatically raises fatal incident totals—even though the danger feels less dramatic.
5. Culture of Safety Saves Lives
Linemen are famously disciplined. The “brotherhood” culture emphasizes:
- Watching each other
- Stopping work when conditions change
- Strict adherence to protocol
That culture measurably reduces fatalities.
So Is Line Work Still One of the Most Dangerous Jobs?
Absolutely.
But danger isn’t measured by how scary a job looks—it’s measured by how often workers die doing it.
Linemen face intense, visible risk, yet their training, equipment, and procedures reduce fatality rates below jobs where danger is constant, uncontrolled, and unavoidable.
Respect the Risk—Respect the Data
Linemen deserve enormous respect. They restore power after disasters, work in conditions most people wouldn’t approach, and accept risks many never see.
But when ranked objectively—using fatal injury data rather than perception—line work lands among the most dangerous jobs, not at the very top.
And that distinction matters, because it highlights something important:
Good safety systems don’t remove danger—but they save lives.
Series Conclusion
This concludes Presence News’ ten-part series on America’s Most Dangerous Jobs. Across industries—from forests and oceans to highways and power lines—millions of workers accept real risk so society can function.
Understanding those risks isn’t about ranking bravado.
It’s about recognizing the human cost behind essential work—and why safety, training, and accountability matter.
Source
👉 Civilian Occupations with High Fatal Work Injury Rates — Bureau of Labor Statistics
Federal labor statistics are used throughout this series to compare fatal injury rates across occupations in the United States.
Disclaimer:
You don’t truly understand how dangerous a job is—until someone you love dies doing it.
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