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Energy news from Omaha Public Power District

Big Number

How much does a lineman’s toolbelt weigh?

June 10, 2019 | Jason Kuiper | T&D
work belt

What is it?

The weight of the average work belt worn by OPPD troubleshooters. Troubleshooters roam OPPD’s coverage area and help check and restore power during outages. They also do routine work assignments, such as overhead service drops for tree trimmers and equipment installations on new construction projects.

Troubleshooters like to have as much equipment with them as reasonably possibly. Since they work alone and are climbing up poles, it’s best to limit the number of trips up and down the poles.

Among the tools in the belt are a rubber glove bag, adjustable wrench, hammer, lineman pliers, along with numerous other items.

The belts, especially the leather models, can weigh considerably more when they get wet. Which can happens a lot in Nebraska where lineman are always out working in every element imaginable.

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About Jason Kuiper

Jason Kuiper joined OPPD as a communications specialist in 2015. He is a former staff writer and reporter at the Omaha World-Herald, where he covered a wide range of topics but spent the majority of his career covering crime. He is a graduate of the University of Nebraska at Omaha and has also appeared in several true crime documentary shows. In his free time he enjoys cooking, spending time with his wife and three children, and reading crime novels.

View all posts by Jason Kuiper >

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