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Staying Safe at Every Step

NLI Lineworkers Sharpen Skills With Monthly Safety Training

By Elissa Glassman

NLI Lineworker Brian Lanaville performs a pole-top rescue exercise with the assistance of NLI Tree Foreman Travis Cottier, below. Photo by Elissa Glassman

An incredible amount of training is involved in becoming a journey-level lineworker.

A Northern Lights apprentice must successfully complete a 3-year apprenticeship, which includes on-the-job training, school, testing on Saturdays, and several weeks of additional training at Camp Rilea in Oregon and a variety of other schools. The training includes additional classroom instruction, testing, and hands-on training.

An apprentice must maintain a high grade-point average. After 3 years of training, they must pass a thorough and intensive exam in Spokane before becoming a journey-level lineworker.

Each month, NLI provides safety training on different subjects, including:

  • First aid and CPR
  • Pole-top and bucket truck rescue
  • Gas line awareness
  • Electrical worker training
  • Highway flaggers certification
  • Snow and avalanche training
  • Winter preparedness
  • Forklift training

NLI lineworkers are highly trained, experts in the field, ensuring safe, reliable, and affordable electric service to power our members’ lives.