LIFE ON THE LINE: The Unseen Dangers of Linemen at Work = LIFE ON THE LINE: The Unseen Dangers of Linemen at Work

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The Philippine Government is confronted with a great challenge of power crisis. In the southern part of the country, citizens are experiencing brown-outs as a result of insufficient supply or disrupted transmission lines blasted by lawless groups. Linemen were sent to those critical areas to restore power. It takes bravery and a great amount of courage to be in a lineman’s shoes. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study is to explore on the various life threatening experiences of linemen on duty. Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) were conducted to 12 linemen working in Davao del Sur, Philippines. Results showed that the risks and dangers they encountered were Fear of Electrocution, Fortuitous incidents, Carelessness, Risking one’s life, and Threats from Consumers. When asked about their learning and insights, the following themes emerged: Love for Work, Observe Safety Standards, Follow Orders, Focus on the Job, Being Cautious, Learn Techniques, and Being Treated Unfairly. The implication of this study is for the government and electric utilities to intensify measures that will ensure safety and well-being of powerline workers.