SPRINGFIELD – Line personnel from Adams Electric Cooperative participated in the annual Lineman’s Safety Rodeo coordinated by the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives (AIEC) on Thursday, Sept. 25. Eighteen teams from 13 electric co-ops and two municipal electric utilities participated in the friendly competition. Ten competed individually. The event was held at the LLCC Line School yard in Springfield.
Adams Electric Cooperative personnel Austin Aschemann, Brennan Caspermeyer and Logan Schutte formed one team, and Adams’ Grady Kurfman and Dustin Waddell joined Tyler Girard from Spoon River Electric Cooperative to represent their respective co-ops at the rodeo. They competed against teams from across Illinois in events using skills that focus on agility, speed and accuracy. While these skills are part of the judging criteria, above all, participants are judged on safe work practices.
Line personnel competed in an armor rod install, cutout change, hurt man rescue, 40-foot transition climb and transition climbing challenge.
Scores for each event are based on completion time, proper execution of the task and safety. Deductions were made to a team or individual’s overall performance score due to mistakes such as slipping when climbing poles, dropping tools or executing inappropriate procedures or methods.
At the end of the day, the Adams team of Aschemann, Caspermeyer and Schutte won first place in the armor rod install event and first place overall. Their team also placed third in the cutout change. Congratulations to our lineworkers on their team and individual efforts.
Adams Electric Cooperative is a member of Touchstone Energy — a national alliance of local, consumer-owned electric cooperatives providing high standards of service to members large and small. More than 700 Touchstone Energy cooperatives in 46 states are delivering energy and energy solutions to more than 30 million members every day. Adams Electric Cooperative is committed to providing superior service based on four core principles: integrity, accountability, innovation and commitment to community. The co-op serves more than 9,000 meters over 2,269 miles of line in parts of Adams, Brown, Hancock, McDonough, Pike and Schuyler counties. For more information visit adamselectric.coop.