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Florida Municipal Electric Association Celebrates 20th Annual Florida Lineman Competition this Week
Electric lineworkers from across the state will compete in the Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) 20th annual Florida Lineman Competition in Tallahassee this Friday and Saturday, March 13 and 14. Lineworkers put their skills to the test by performing tasks they encounter in real-world scenarios. Hosted by the City of Tallahassee electric utility, the competition will be held at the Tallahassee Automobile Museum. This is the third time the competition has been hosted by City of Tallahassee.
Competitors will take on tasks such as replacing streetlight heads and three-phase fuses to a simulation of rescuing an injured lineworker. Competitors earn points for completing the tasks as quickly as possible and lose points if safety standards and proper work practices are not followed. Journeymen teams, which include at least one lineworker who has been in the industry for five years or more, are made up of three lineworkers. Apprentices, or lineworkers in training, compete individually.
This year, 24 journeyman teams (totaling 75 journeyman competitors) and 76 apprentices from 13 utilities will be participating.
Winners will be recognized at a banquet Saturday evening.
“Safety. Excellence. Honor. These are the principles by which lineworkers live and do their jobs. The Florida Lineman Competition is a great opportunity for the public to watch lineworkers put these principles into action and practice their craft in real-world scenarios,” said Amy Zubaly, FMEA Executive Director. “We are so proud to have the honor of holding this event for 20 years now and look forward to another exciting competition this weekend.”
The family-friendly competition is free and open to the public. Members of the public are encouraged to attend the competition on Saturday, March 14, starting with an 8 a.m. opening ceremony. Attendees should bring a blanket or chairs for sitting. In addition to children’s activities, local food trucks will be on-site. Picnic lunches and coolers are permitted. Parking is free.
Established in 2001 by the FMEA, the Florida Lineman Competition brings together public power lineworkers from across the state to demonstrate their skill and knowledge in the craft of line work. At the competition, journeyman and apprentices compete for professional recognition, attend training courses and practice essential skills in a safe environment. The competition encourages safety awareness, teamwork and networking with other utilities.
To view the competition agenda and map, click here.