Posters Putting Workers At Risk
Regional general manager Richard Wake said that while the poles may seem a handy option for displaying material such as election posters, there were good reasons why they should remain clear.
"In recent weeks we have seen an increase in the amount of material being placed on power poles throughout the region," Richard said.
"Apart from being an eyesore and often blowing off to create litter, the signs and movie posters pose a safety risk for work crews carrying out maintenance and repairs.
"When they are wet they become slippery and often our field workers are required to climb these poles at night to restore supply.
"Hammering nails into the poles can hasten their decay, and when left there they are a danger to our workers, while materials covering parts of the pole can hide possible insect infestation and identification discs used for maintenance purposes.
"Additionally, some poles carry important operational equipment such as switches for configuring the network. We don't want people putting their lives at risk by coming anywhere near this equipment."
He said Country Energy's requirements had been developed for the safety of the public and its own workers.
"The last thing we want is for anyone to be injured," Richard said. "We don't give permission for anyone to place these posters on our poles.
"We're not able to dedicate the time and resources to remove them immediately, but they will be taken down as our workers go about their daily jobs."
August 05, 2010
Related Posters Article
