SOUTH AFRICA 路 SALARY IN RANDS

Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers

What the work involves, the skills employers want, and how to get started in South Africa.

  • Class Gloving Electrical Lineman
  • Class Rubber Gloving Lineman
  • Electrical Lineman
  • Electrical Lineworker
  • Lineworker
  • Power Lineman
  • Power Lineman Technician
  • Service Man
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What do Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers do?

Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers, often referred to as linemen, are professionals responsible for the installation, maintenance, and repair of electrical power lines and transmission systems. They work with high-voltage transmission lines, distribution lines, and communication cables, ensuring that electricity is delivered safely and efficiently to homes, businesses, and industries. These technicians are essential in both urban and rural settings and may work for utility companies, electrical contractors, or government agencies. Their work often involves outdoor tasks at various heights, requiring physical strength, technical knowledge, and adherence to safety regulations. Linemen may operate heavy machinery, climb poles, and work in varying weather conditions, making their job both challenging and rewarding. They play a crucial role in maintaining the reliability of the electrical grid, responding to outages, and implementing upgrades or improvements to electrical infrastructure.

What the work actually is

  • Adhere to safety practices and procedures, such as checking equipment regularly and erecting barriers around work areas.
  • Drive vehicles equipped with tools and materials to job sites.
  • Open switches or attach grounding devices to remove electrical hazards from disturbed or fallen lines or to facilitate repairs.
  • Climb poles or use truck-mounted buckets to access equipment.
  • Install, maintain, and repair electrical distribution and transmission systems, including conduits, cables, wires, and related equipment, such as transformers, circuit breakers, and switches.

Skills employers expect

Skills

  • Active Listening Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Troubleshooting Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
  • Monitoring Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Operation and Control Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
  • Operations Monitoring Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Abilities

  • Arm-Hand Steadiness The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Multilimb Coordination The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
  • Near Vision The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Problem Sensitivity The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
  • Control Precision The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.

Knowledge

  • Building and Construction Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
  • English Language Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Education and Training Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
  • Public Safety and Security Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
  • Transportation Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.

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How people get into it

Education of new hires

High school diploma or equivalent
or: GED, High School Equivalency Certificate
Post-secondary certificate
Awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in Personnel Services, Engineering-related Technologies, Vocational Home Economics, Construction Trades, Mechanics and Repairers, Precision Production Trades)
Less than high school diploma

A normal week

  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
  • Performing General Physical Activities
  • Handling and Moving Objects
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
  • Controlling Machines and Processes

Tools used on the job

Technology

  • Electronic mail software Email software 路 Microsoft Outlook
  • Video conferencing software Zoom
  • Computer aided design CAD software Bentley MicroStation 路 Computer aided design and drafting CADD software
  • Spreadsheet software Microsoft Excel
  • Geographic information system Geographic information system GIS systems

Tools

  • Power drills Concrete drills 路 Gas drills 路 Hammer drills
  • Conduit benders Cable benders 路 Hand benders 路 Hydraulic benders
  • Voltage or current meters Current leakage meters 路 Digital recording amp meters 路 Digital voltmeters DVM
  • Pneumatic hammer Air hammers 路 Ground rod drivers 路 Jackhammers
  • Protective gloves Asbestos gloves 路 Insulated gloves 路 Leather gloves

Who it suits

Realistic

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Conventional

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

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Questions people ask

How much do Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers earn in South Africa?

Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers salaries in South Africa vary by experience, province and employer.

What do Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers do?

Adhere to safety practices and procedures, such as checking equipment regularly and erecting barriers around work areas, Drive vehicles equipped with tools and materials to job sites and Open switches or attach grounding devices to remove electrical hazards from disturbed or fallen lines or to facilitate repairs.

How do I know if this career fits me?

Take the free Assessify career assessment. It matches your answers to careers and shows the South African salary next to each one.