What is a common tool used by linemen for installation tasks?

Insulated hand tools are essential for linemen during installation tasks because they are specifically designed to protect workers from electrical shock while working with high-voltage equipment. These tools are built with insulation around the handles, which helps to prevent accidental contact with energized components and ensures the safety of the linemen as they perform their work on overhead lines, transformers, and other electrical systems.

The other tools listed, while useful in certain contexts, do not address the primary safety concern that linemen face. Welding machines, for example, are typically used in metalworking and are not a common tool for linemen's installation tasks. Power drills serve a specific purpose but are not universally applicable to all installation needs nor do they provide the necessary insulation for electrical work. Hand saws, although they can be used in construction, do not offer the same level of safety for electrical tasks as insulated tools do. Thus, insulated hand tools stand out as the appropriate choice for ensuring both effectiveness and safety in the installation activities carried out by linemen.