By Gloria Tucker / Dodge City Daily Globe
Posted Nov. 13, 2015 at 1:01 AM
Dodge City, Kan.
For the first time the Dodge City Community College Electrical and Power Transmission program welcomes a female student.
"I've
been teaching this program five years," instructor Dan Hopkins said.
"This is the first time I've had a female student because this
occupation is 98 percent male. There are not very many women who even
think about getting into this. I've seen female linemen as far back as
the late '80s and early '90s, but they are few and far between."
been teaching this program five years," instructor Dan Hopkins said.
"This is the first time I've had a female student because this
occupation is 98 percent male. There are not very many women who even
think about getting into this. I've seen female linemen as far back as
the late '80s and early '90s, but they are few and far between."
In
the program students learn the basics of electricity, climbing and
building power lines. In the first semester, they learn how to climb 40-
and 80-foot poles with a fall arrest belt and how to set those poles in
the ground. Certificates are earned in one year and an associate's
degree in two years.
the program students learn the basics of electricity, climbing and
building power lines. In the first semester, they learn how to climb 40-
and 80-foot poles with a fall arrest belt and how to set those poles in
the ground. Certificates are earned in one year and an associate's
degree in two years.
"They can spend two to three
hours at a time up a pole, so they have to be broke into that," Hopkins
said. "The female body is built pretty well for climbing. What females
sometimes lack is upper body strength. You use a lot of upper body
strength once you get up the pole and start working. I know some women
who got into line work and then as years went by went into other fields
like metering and substation work. That pays very well. It really is an
occupation females should look into because they can branch out."
hours at a time up a pole, so they have to be broke into that," Hopkins
said. "The female body is built pretty well for climbing. What females
sometimes lack is upper body strength. You use a lot of upper body
strength once you get up the pole and start working. I know some women
who got into line work and then as years went by went into other fields
like metering and substation work. That pays very well. It really is an
occupation females should look into because they can branch out."
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Lineman program accepts first woman - News - Dodge City Daily Globe - Dodge City, KS - Dodge City, KS
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