Clayton lineman emphasizes safety, camaraderie on National Lineman Appreciation Day

John Beasley, a line tech three with the Town of Clayton Electrical Department, said the town’s linemen gathered to mark National Lineman Appreciation Day and to recognize the hazards of their work.

Beasley, who said he has been with the town for about 11 years, described routine duties that include new construction and maintenance and said crews "split up as a different parts" depending on the day’s needs. He said the work requires strict safety steps and careful switching when crews restore power during storms.

"Safety in our job is number one," Beasley said, adding that crews follow set procedures and "work as quickly and safely as we can" to get power back on after outages. He also said linemen "look after each other" in those conditions.

Beasley described linemen as "a big brotherhood," saying the job’s danger makes trust among crew members essential: "We spend more time with each other than anybody else. With our job being as dangerous it is, you have to have a trust in the men you work with."

Beasley made the remarks while celebrating National Lineman Appreciation Day; no formal actions or votes were recorded during his remarks.