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A day in the life of an OPPD field worker

Posted at 6:52 PM, Sep 17, 2019
and last updated 2019-09-17 19:52:13-04

OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — People don't usually think about OPPD or any power company until their power is off, and don't think about the hard and dangerous electrical work they do every day.

"A lot of people don't think about all the work that goes into climbing a pole or replacing a fuse," says Matt Peterson, Senior Engineer and Distribution Engineer at OPPD.

That's why OPPD invited all its employees for a field day. Office staff and field workers got a taste of what it's like to work in the heat.

"Over half of the employees today have never been in the field once, so they're getting a hard hat for the first time, and it'll be a pretty memorable experience for them," says Peterson.

Employees got a chance to ride bucket trucks, climb poles, and replace fuses. These are some tasks field employees do everyday.

All power lines were inactive for the field day, but it didn't stop employees from working their hardest to learn the tasks that field workers do in all weather conditions.

"It's a hot day, but that kind of adds to the environment and that's what our crews deal with all the time." Jodi Baker, OPPD Spokesperson, says. "A lot of times people don't think about the power company unless the power is out, and if their power is out, we're out there."

OPPD says field work is such a crucial aspect to their business, and want to show their employees, especially those who work behind a desk, that this type of work can be exciting.