An unusual competition is coming to downtown Tacoma on Wednesday, September 30. Utility lineworker crews from across Washington will gather at Tollefson Plaza to demonstrate how they would rescue an injured coworker from the top of a utility pole. The final round is free to watch and is expected to begin around noon.

This is the 51st Pole Top Rescue Competition, held in connection with the Governor’s Industrial Safety and Health Conference at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center. The emergency is simulated, but the skill is real. Crews must show how they would respond safely and effectively when a fellow worker cannot get down on their own.

Preliminary rounds on Tuesday will determine which four crews advance to Wednesday’s finals. Then comes a wrinkle: shortly before the final round, organizers give the teams an additional problem that complicates the rescue. They have to assess the situation and decide on a safe approach under pressure.

There’s a hometown team to watch. Tacoma Power is among the participating utilities, and its pole-top rescue team took second place at the statewide competition in 2024. This year’s result remains to be seen, but the event offers a close look at the preparation behind work most residents usually see only from a distance.

The competition has been part of the Governor’s safety conference since 1973, when it was added to teach proper rescue techniques. Its public final makes that training visible: spectators can see the teamwork and judgment involved in getting someone off a pole during a simulated emergency.

The public finals are Wednesday, September 30, starting around noon at Tollefson Plaza, outside the Greater Tacoma Convention Center at 1500 Commerce Street. Admission to watch is free. See the organizer’s competition details here.