The ESB is reminding all groups involved in the upcoming Presidential Election that the erection of candidate posters on electricity poles is strictly prohibited and poses a serious safety risk to members of the public as well as ESB Networks staff and contractors.
Hazardous situations have been created in the past by people erecting posters on live electricity poles and infrastructure. Attaching anything to electricity poles exposes individuals to the risk of electric shock, burns and falling from a height. ESB Networks’ wires and equipment are always live, and posters attached to poles have previously caused poles to catch fire and fall.
Weather conditions such as heavy rain and winds can cause posters to become detached and in turn potentially making contact with live electrical wires. The removal of posters from electricity poles can pose significant safety risks to ESB Networks staff, which can result in severe injuries.
Speaking ahead of the upcoming election Claire Mulholland, ESB Networks Public Safety Manager, said: “ESB Networks advise members of the public to always stay safe and stay clear of electricity poles and wires. It is never safe to interfere with electricity equipment. We have been required in the past to interrupt the electricity supply to households and businesses to safely remove posters. In the interest of safety, we remind all groups it is prohibited to erect candidate posters on electricity poles”.
You should always stay safe and stay clear of electricity wires and cables as these are always live and potentially dangerous. If you see a potentially dangerous situation or in the event of an emergency involving the electricity network, please contact ESB Networks on our 24/7 emergency phone number: 1800 372 999.
Last week, Traffic Infrastructure Ireland (TII) motorway maintenance crew removed posters from the N19 dual-carriageway in Shannon, citing road safety reasons.
A TII spokesperson said: “Candidates and election workers should be advised that, with the exception of emergency situations, it is illegal to stop on motorways for any purpose (including the erection of election material). This prohibition exists for road safety reasons and to ensure avoidance of traffic flow disruption.
Similarly, for road safety and efficiency reasons, the same approach should be adopted in the case of dual carriageways.
Additionally, on bridges/overpasses there is an inherent risk in the practice of suspending/attaching banners and posters from/to road overbridges and pedestrian bridges. Such banners/posters could become loose or be interfered with by third parties and could fall onto fast moving traffic on the roads below and has the potential to cause a serious accident.
Therefore, to maintain a safer environs contractors engaged by TII have been instructed to remove any election material placed on/along the roadways, overbridges, interchanges and at interchange approaches.”
