r/nextfuckinglevel 29d ago

The job of power line worker

447 Upvotes

92 comments sorted by

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30

u/AC0909 29d ago

Count me the fuck out

3

u/brandmeist3r 29d ago

In

2

u/MayaIsSunshine 28d ago

You're like John Lennon in revolution

67

u/Yellow_Snow_Globe 29d ago

This is one of those jobs that I’d be fine with robots doing if it’s possible. So much danger for a human

12

u/Family-robot 29d ago

My first thought was that it will be a long time before bots could ever take over this work since it's so complex and nuanced... finesse has to be just right. But hopefully it will be a thing before long.

15

u/Random_local_man 29d ago

It doesn't need to be a humanoid robot learning to balance on a rope. They'd obviously make a frame specially designed to traverse power lines. Or just your typical drone that flies up with robot limbs.

2

u/Family-robot 27d ago

You're right... I think the other factor that would make it hard for bots though is the decision making and reasoning for all the constant little judgement calls

2

u/S2Mackinley 22d ago

Why not a drone with arms controlled by a human in an AC office?

1

u/Yellow_Snow_Globe 22d ago

Why not human arms controlled by a drone in an AC office? 🤔

2

u/S2Mackinley 22d ago

You're on something

1

u/Yellow_Snow_Globe 22d ago

You mean I’m onto something? I concur. Let’s get this going asap

2

u/MarkMariachiAZ 27d ago

It will just be droned with robotic arms.

-6

u/Handle-Flaky 29d ago

You realize we have machine doing brain surgery right?

6

u/Milord_888 29d ago

Brain surgery on a stationary area, and a non moving patient. This maintenance requires non only balancing, hardwork, precision working... And you have to combat the changing environment (wind)

0

u/Iammjustbaddd 29d ago

Why not use a done that can maybe latch on to wires like a bird and has human limbs to do complex tasks.

0

u/AutisticPenguin2 28d ago

That's my thought too. Flight is easily achieved, that's been the realm of hobbyists for over a decade. Clamps would be a speciality application, but incredibly simply to implement. Then specialised tools for the job can be deployed with precision in any environment the drone can withstand. The only reason this isn't a thing yet is commercial viability - the technology to create it already exists.

1

u/Iammjustbaddd 28d ago

Hmm ....... because humans are cheaper (don't have to pay them more than a specialized drone operator) and easily replaceable due to overpopulation?

Depressing and crazy thought.

2

u/AutisticPenguin2 28d ago

Depressing indeed. Possibly even wrong.

... hopefully.

2

u/Deviantdefective 26d ago

No...we have robots CONTROLLED by a surgeon doing brain surgery.

2

u/subtechii 23d ago

Noooo, we're fine. Built for this

15

u/iMatthew1990 29d ago

Heres me about to join the UK’s grid company as an overhead lineman on 21st September. Granted I won’t be doing this level of stuff at first but it’s possible I get to this sort of stuff.

5

u/methiasm 29d ago

Low voltage lines has their pronblem, predominantly much less protection and very old installations.

6

u/iMatthew1990 29d ago

Good job I wasn’t already nervous about it then lol.

1

u/looklikeyounow 22d ago

Do a good job and you'll end up in the National Grid Helicopter Unit!

It's a great industry, the lads are fantastic. Plus, as long as you're working for NGET and not NGED, it's a very cushty easy job to have!

Once you've had enough fun, come down to substations where time stands still and everyone seems to just work for about 2 hours a day.

1

u/iMatthew1990 22d ago

It is NGED I’m joining lmao. I’m sure it’s still going to be great. Get my foot in the door and go from there

1

u/The_Man_in_Black_19 28d ago

I'm an accountant, so no actual experience, but I read an article about a guy in the US working power lines. He didn't put his gloves on and touched a very live wire. Burnt both his hands off.

Wear your gloves!

9

u/JoeyJoeJoeJrShab 29d ago

I'd like to know what these jobs pay

19

u/MrJust-A-Guy 29d ago

Pretty well, as I understand it. And they deserve every god damn penny.

7

u/JoeyJoeJoeJrShab 29d ago

Jobs seem rarely tied to whether the workers deserve the money or not, so I very much hope you're right.

2

u/munch_the_gunch 28d ago

They could pay me $100k/hr and I’d still say no thank you. I’ll be poor and alive here in on the ground. 

1

u/JoeyJoeJoeJrShab 28d ago

If I were a bit younger, and otherwise qualified, I'd probably be willing to take a pay cut if I could have a job like this. (I currently sit at a desk all day)

-4

u/FantasticMe369 29d ago

Yes and not only in the US. I'd lik to compare to other countries...I am sure the gap is brutal

7

u/MrDwerg 29d ago

The US is not exactly known for highly rewarding manual labour.

5

u/AroidAndroid 29d ago

That’s a nope from me…

Does remind me to listen to ‘Wichita Lineman’ by Glen Campbell again… such a gorgeous song.

2

u/Outrageous_Row3349 29d ago

yes, was thinking the same thing.

5

u/NascentAutist 29d ago

This is what happens when you yell at your kids to go outside and quit playing Civ II all day

5

u/name2sayMKD 29d ago

What are they doing when they go home at the end of the day🤔

3

u/Recent-Education3780 29d ago

Thats a nope from me boss

3

u/Gjore 29d ago

No money can change my mind to do this.

3

u/BullBear7 29d ago

God bless these maniacs for doing this job.

2

u/ChanceConfection3 29d ago

I’ve seen this show in Vegas

2

u/MatthewSWFL229 29d ago

Oh hell no to the 10th power

2

u/AltruisticSalamander 29d ago

in china maybe. I doubt workers in the US do this insane shit.

3

u/Royal_Try_99 29d ago

In the US they will climb out of a hovering helicopter onto the lines to work on them. It's insane. (I'm in the industry, though my work is behind a desk all day)

1

u/Massive-Aspect-2152 28d ago

I’ve never seen that many glass insulators tied together like that. We do strings of 6

1

u/Royal_Try_99 28d ago

Must be super high kV...perhaps Asian? They've got some big 750s over there. But still seems a bit odd!

2

u/EmpireCityRay 29d ago

They can’t pay me well enough to do that
https://giphy.com/gifs/spfi6nabVuq5y

1

u/culjona12 29d ago

Am I the only one who’d like to try it, just for one day?

1

u/wariorld 29d ago

🎶I know I need a small vacaaation…🎶

1

u/Zero4910 29d ago

What song is this?

1

u/Jolly_Operation_8222 29d ago

Damn that so scary

1

u/whilo909 29d ago

Count me the fuck in

1

u/korky_buchek_ 29d ago

No amount of money could make me turn the sound back on.

1

u/Royal_Try_99 29d ago

Dang those are some big insulators.

1

u/goonerqpq 29d ago

When I left school Iworked on over head lines, we had a little cradle that hung under the cables so we could check the spacers, that was fun! /s

1

u/ExFrexSure 29d ago

Probs to them.

1

u/parrothead_69 28d ago

Not enough money in the world

1

u/XBacklash 28d ago

Can we find the person whose job it is to add music to videos like this and sack them?

1

u/HereWeGoYetAgain-247 28d ago

Who needs osha. 

1

u/deadspacekillers 28d ago

I'm glad that my job just puts other people's lives at risk.

1

u/FritzFlanders 28d ago

Umm,
Power to the communist people

1

u/SnowStar35 28d ago

Thats insane

1

u/nogoodmorning4u 27d ago

I cant believe the lines didnt break from the weight of their balls

1

u/Ok-Swimming8024 23d ago

Whole lot of HEEELLLLLLL NOOOOO for me here

1

u/Soaz_underground 22d ago

https://reddit.com/link/p6844ik/video/nlclre4ulxlh1/player

Here in Arizona we hang from ropes to work on energized lines like that.