KIUC Linemen All Geared Up - Kauai Island Utility Cooperative

By Anne Barnes
KIUC IN THE COMMUNITY
You Can Help KIUC
It is easy to take something for granted when
you see it every day. We drive by row after row of
them, but how often do we think about utility
poles? Yet these silent sentinels—often under
attack in our community—are critical to KIUC’s
mission of delivering safe and reliable power.
Co­ops rely on more than 41 million utility poles
to support these lines. These staunch supporters
of electricity are under constant attack from the
elements: storms, insects, moisture and harsh
soils. But people play a part in pole erosion, too.
At first, utility poles may seem like ideal places
for posters, signs or even clotheslines. However,
these items and the staples and nails left behind
when they are removed create serious safety
hazards for KIUC workers. Abandoned nails, tacks
or staples can rip through protective gloves,
leaving line workers exposed to thousands of volts
of energy when working on power lines.
Even when nails are removed, the leftover holes
provide easy entry for bugs and water, causing a
pole that should have lasted four decades or more
to weaken much faster. Signs can cause auto
accidents by distracting drivers and blocking pole
reflectors. Fallen signs also litter the roadway and
take away from the beauty of our island.
The Public Utilities Commission’s General Order
#6, Rule #34 regarding “Foreign Attachments,”
strictly prohibits affixing any nonutility items to
utility poles.
It is KIUC’s responsibility to assure our workers
are safe. Please help us by not attaching anything
to utility poles. When you see KIUC crews
removing foreign attachments from poles, please
understand it is their job to do so, and it is for
their own safety.
We need your help. If you notice anyone trying
to attach something to a utility pole, let them
know it is dangerous and against the law.
To report emergencies or other safety matters,
call KIUC 24 hours a day at 808.246.4300.
Crews Be Safe
OCTOBER 2011 23