To the wire

EPHRATA — Two Grant County Public Utility District employees showcased their skills at a state competition this past week.

“It's good experience, especially just in case something were to ever happen,” said Grant PUD journeyman lineman Carson Fisk.

Fisk, along with apprentice lineman Sheldon Kosa, participated in a local rescue competition where they came out on top before going on to the Washington State Pole Top Rescue Competition.

Fisk explained the top team from the local competition is selected to represent the PUD at the state meet, with the runner-up serving as the alternate team in case one or both members of the first team are unable to compete.

The Pole Top Rescue Competition has been a part of the Governor’s Industrial Safety and Health Conference since 1973, and is designed to teach people about proper rescue techniques, according to the competition’s website. Teams of electrical linemen compete at rescuing a victim from a utility pole in a mock industrial accident.

“They do real life scenarios with a dummy up (a utility pole), as if someone were to get shocked or electrocuted,” said Fisk. “So then you eliminate the hazards and then you climb up and get the dummy to the ground to rescue him.”

Fisk said after getting the dummy to the ground, the team then performs CPR on another dummy.

Some of the things the judges looked for, according to Fisk, were how well the competitors communicated with each other and emergency services and how long it took them to get the dummy to safety.

These aren’t new skills for competitors, however, as it showcases the skills they have acquired through their education and on-the-job training.

“This shows that everybody could use more practice during these types of situations and scenarios and how to learn to stay calm and collected,” Fisk said on what he learned from competing at the state level.

Fisk and Kosa were one of eight teams that participated in the preliminary competition on Tuesday, but did not make the top four to move on to the final competition on Wednesday.

“It was fun,” said Fisk. “Sheldon did a really good job, (it was) his first time doing it.”

Fisk said this year was his fifth time doing the local competition but first time at the state competition.

Fisk finished his apprenticeship last September and Kosa just started his about two months ago. Fisk said how most of the other competitors at the state level were pairs of journeymen but Fisk and Kosa were one, if not the only, pair with an apprentice.

The competition was held Sept. 28-29, right before Public Power Week. According to the American Public Power Association, public power utilities across the U.S. celebrate Public Power Week the first full week of October every year to help customers and stakeholders understand how they can better engage with their community-owned utility and benefit from all its offerings.

Fisk explained that there are a number of different scenarios that could lead to a situation where someone would need to be rescued from a utility pole. He said he has not yet had to face that scenario in real life.

“Thankfully not,” said Fisk. “You don't ever want to have to do that.”

Fisk also said electricity is dangerous and people should stay away from it if they can and let professionals in the industry handle any problems or difficult situations.

Rebecca Pettingill may be reached at rpettingill@columbiabasinherald.com.