“You’re Just A Cable Splicer!”
Published 13 Sep 2019
This article was written by John Perez of Quanta Underground Power Services
âž¡ See Part 2 “You’re Still Just A Cable Splicer!”
“Your Just A Cable Splicer?!?” was a question that I was once asked by a Lineman, in a very incredulous tone. My first thought was to tell this 
person off and to let them know that I was not “only a Cable Splicer” but that I was a very good cable splicer.
But then I realized that what I was going to say would fall on deaf ears. I instead responded, “Yes, I guess that I am just a cable splicer. But the truth is, I know more about cable splicing than you do. Maybe I could teach you a few things.”
I have been a Journeyman Cable Splicer since 1993.
Over the years I have learned that we all have our position that adds value to our trade. Whether you are a Groundman, Apprentice, Lineman, Cable Splicer, Operator, General Foreman, Superintendent, or another Classification everyone has a valuable roll on a crew or within a Company.
Most of us take for granted or talk down to, our Helpers and Groundman, but when we have a crew of all Journeyman, there tends to be a lot of arguing about who will perform clean up tasks. Also, I don’t know of too many Journeyman (of any kind) who wants to go out and dig holes, pole holes, splice pits, transformer vaults, etc…
I have always felt that working together as a crew and teaching those around you, regardless of how many years of experience the other person may have, has always been the best way. None of us know everything about our chosen trade and you should worry about the people who say that they do. You can almost always learn something from someone else, good or bad. Passing on bad work habits or a bad work ethic is really no longer acceptable. This holds especially true, now, for those of us who are Union members. Currently, there is more than one Presidential Candidate who would like to make every State “Right To Work”.
Don’t take for granted our fellow workers within whatever Brotherhood you belong to. Raise the bar of excellence within yourself and I guarantee that your peers will follow, or they will move on. Safety and Quality must always be at the forefront of our work. We should never leave a potential trap for those who may follow us. Besides the person who follows your poor work could be you.
Further Reading
- PILC Replacement & Cable Longevity
- Cable Splicing At The Lazy Q Ranch
- Cold Shrink Splices & Cable Jointer Training
THORNE & DERRICK
Thorne & Derrick are national distributors of LV, MV & HV Cable Installation, Jointing, Substation & Electrical Equipment – servicing businesses involved in cabling, jointing cables, substation, earthing, overhead line and electrical construction at LV, 11kV, 33kV, 66kV and EHV. Supplying a complete range of power cable accessories to support the installation and maintenance of low/medium and high voltage power systems:
- Slip-on Cable Terminations
- Cold-shrink Cable Terminations
- Heat-shrink Cable Terminations
- Cable Joints – Heat & Cold-shrink
- Separable Connectors (Euromold)
- Surge Arresters & Switchgear/Transformer Bushings
Key Product Categories: Duct Seals | Cable Cleats | Cable Glands | Electrical Safety | Arc Flash Protection | Cable Jointing Tools | Cable Pulling | Earthing | Feeder Pillars | Cable Joints LV | Joints & Terminations MV HVÂ
