No posting zone: the dangers of posting signs on utility poles

Safety risks for line workers

Yard sale signs, basketball hoops, deer stands, satellite dishes, lights and birdhouses. Yes, electric cooperative line workers find all these items and more on utility poles. Not only is this dangerous, but it is also life-threatening to the professionals who maintain our electricity, and to those posting the items. For your safety and the safety of those who keep the power flowing, please do not post these items on power poles.

The clamped safety boots used by line workers to climb poles are vulnerable to becoming snagged on staples and nails embedded in posts. Foreign objects can also tear utility workers’ protective clothing, which is the first line of protection from an electric shock in the event of an accident. They can also injure workers despite the safety gear they wear to avoid contact with rough surfaces.

Safety risk for those posting on utility poles

Anyone posting items on utility poles also is at risk of exposure to thousands of volts of electricity pulsing overhead. Always stay at least 10 feet away from utility lines. Unauthorized pole attachments also violate the National Electrical Safety Code.

How you can help keep everyone safe

Please do your part to help cooperative line workers stay safe. Do not attach anything on utility poles and report if you see tree stands, any hunting apparatus or other items that do not belong on utility poles.  

It is also important to avoid tampering with or disrupting the guy wires that surround utility poles. Tell children not to play or swing on them, and maintain your distance when performing yard work. If you see the poles or guy wires are disrupted in some way, please call your local utility company immediately.

Learn more about how to keep yourself and those you love safe around electricity.