Job description Telephone Line Technician in the North Region

Find out what work is like for a telephone line technician in Canada. This work description is applicable to all Telecommunications line and cable workers (NOC 72204).

Telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers

Description

Telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers install, repair and maintain telecommunication lines and cables, cable television transmission and distribution systems and associated hardware. They are employed by cable television, telephone and other telecommunications service companies. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.

Work week duration

Telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers usually work between 35 to 40 hours per week.
Between 35 to 40 hours

Job duties

Here are some of the main activities and tasks that Telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers have to perform, and some of the physical demands they involve:

  • Install, remove, maintain and repair aerial and underground telephone, coaxial and fibre optic cable television, and other telecommunication transmission and distribution lines, cables and associated hardware
  • Splice and repair various types and sizes of telephone and other telecommunication cables including single line, coaxial and fibre optic
  • Repair or replace faulty cables, power supplies, amplifiers and other associated transmission and distribution equipment
  • Inspect, monitor, test and adjust telecommunication transmission lines and cables and distribution systems
  • Analyze and record test results
  • Climb and work aloft on poles, ladders or other support structures or work in confined spaces such as trenches, tunnels and crawl spaces
  • Communicate with other workers to co-ordinate the preparation and completion of work assignments
  • Assist in the erection and removal of telecommunication poles, towers and associated support structures
  • May operate excavation machinery and other heavy equipment.

Physical demands Help - Physical Demands

  • Handling material manually
  • Standing
  • Bending or twisting the body
  • Making repetitive motions
  • Climbing

Physical demands

Physical demands are the physical activities that the job requires the worker to do. Physical demands are selected according to the likeliness that workers will have to perform them for at least half of the time they spend at work.

Workplaces and employers

Here are the typical workplaces where Telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers are employed and some of their main characteristics:

  • Telephone and other telecommunications service companies
  • Cable television companies

Work environment Help - Physical Work Environment

  • Standard safety equipment
  • Outside, exposed to weather
  • High places
  • Extreme temperatures
  • Hazardous equipment, machinery, tools
  • In an enclosed vehicle or equipment
  • Indoors, environmentally controlled
  • Dangerous chemical substances
  • Hazardous conditions
  • Indoors, not environmentally controlled

Physical proximity from others Help - Physical proximity from others

  • Somewhat close (e.g. share office)

Work environment

The work environment refers to the physical setting in which people work. The characteristics and conditions of the work environment are selected according to the likeliness that workers will be exposed to them at least once a week.

Physical proximity from others

Physical proximity from others refers to the physical distance between individuals in the workplace. The likeliness that the job requires to perform tasks while being physically close to other people is rated on a scale with 3 levels: "Somewhat close", "Close" and "Very close".

Related job titles

Here are some other related job titles that are found in the same occupational category (NOC 72204), and a list of similar occupations:

  • apprentice lineman/woman - telecommunications
  • cable television installation technician
  • cable television maintenance technician
  • communication technician - construction
  • construction technician - cable television
  • splicer technician - telephone
  • telecommunication cable repairer
  • telecommunications line installer
  • telecommunications lineman/woman
  • telephone line technician

Similar occupations Help - Similar occupations

Similar occupations

This section lists other occupations that are part of the same broad occupational category as Telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers in the National Occupational Classification (NOC). These occupations involve similar core qualifications but involve different responsibilities. To see more similar occupations, use the Job Transition Tool.

Sources Occupational and Skills Information System & National Occupational Classification

Labour Market Information Survey
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