WITH just over two weeks to go before Jamaicans head to the polls in the country’s 19th general election, utility poles lining the length and breadth of the island have seemingly become standard-bearers of campaign paraphernalia as the two main political parties kick things into high gear.

Political banners, flyers and posters — some life-size in their dimensions — as well as orange and green flags sticking out in various directions from utility poles, have been mounted in a battle to command the attention of potential voters.

However, what many might not be considering is the safety hazard the practice poses to pedestrians, motorists, utility workers, and the very individuals mounting them, and Dr Robert Beharie, lecturer and head of electrical power engineering in the Faculty of Engineering at The University of the West Indies (The UWI), Mona, says it is a huge problem.

“It’s a potential risk to pedestrians, drivers, and just the public overall,” he told the Jamaica Observer in an interview on Friday.

The expert also said that utility providers — Jamaica Public Service, Digicel, and Flow — should be concerned about the mounting of political campaign material on the poles that form part of their infrastructure network.

“The main thing is risk. If you think about it, a pole might be scheduled for repair because it is not in good condition, and you’ll have non-competent [individuals] or people who are not experienced [erecting posters] — however they get these flyers on the pole, whether they climb them [or] they use other methods — it could be very, very unsafe,” said Dr Beharie.

He said, too, that the method of installing the large posters — whether by staples, nails, or some other form — could impede utility workers who need to access the poles in order to carry out their duties.

“[Workers] use a bucket truck to access the wires or whatever facilities the utility [pole] has on it, but if it is a pole that they physically have to climb, you think about staples being there and nails… that could damage the utility workers’ gloves or just, in general, their safety,” the electrical power engineering expert added.

An industry insider, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed to the Sunday Observer that the practice is a safety risk, and disclosed that it could contribute to damage and service interruption as well.

Attempts to get a comment from the Office of Political Ombudsman and the utility providers were not successful.

“Some of them [posters] are huge. How secure is this flyer that was installed? Was it done to any specification or standard?” Dr Beharie asked as he expounded on the potential risk to a pedestrian who might be walking by a utility pole and essentially underneath one of the oversized posters.

“The other thing is that they could cause distractions for drivers,” The UWI lecturer continued. “Some of these are very attractive and colourful… it could be a reflection issue or just drivers staring at these flyers and could cause an accident.”

Dr Beharie pointed out that utility poles have what is known as a safe zone, and there have been sightings of political campaign paraphernalia erected outside of this safe zone.

“The safe zone from electrical hazard is basically a vertical space — defined by the National Electrical Safety Code [which] is an international standard — that is designed to prevent accidental contact between electrical workers and the power lines.

“So, regarding a typical utility pole, you’ll have the highest voltage [at the top] and the lower voltage coming down the pole towards the ground, and then you’d have a particular clearance, [followed by] the communication cable — somewhere in-between there, you’d have the street lights or traffic lights,” Dr Beharie explained.

The safe zone for a non-electrical person who is not qualified — essentially a layman who might be a general worker and tasked with installing some of these flyers or posters — would be below the communication cable, he said, emphasising that the purpose of the safe zone is to protect the workers from electrical hazards.

Admittedly, the practice of mounting promotional paraphernalia on utility poles does not only include political campaign material. Other advertisements can also be found on utility poles around the island, and not so long ago party promoters were among those targeted for affixing information about their events to utility poles.

“We used to have a huge problem, [with promoters] having events, parties, and other known events, but with the advent of technology and advertisements being more digital now we don’t have that problem [anymore],” Dr Beharie said, adding that because party promoters also have to apply for permits through the different municipal corporations when hosting events, that has also helped with the management of the issue.

The electrical power engineering expert also said that, although the practice might be common in Jamaica, it does not mean it is right.

“We have to leave this place better than we came and saw it, whether it is temporary or permanent. A common practice doesn’t make it a correct practice, and we have to have some form of management for these situations — whether it is managed through a parish council [or some other means].

“It can’t be business as usual, because one of the things is… the dimensions of the signs change as you move through a community. An [area with a] more dense population would have a bigger sign, [and] a less densely populated [area] would have a smaller sign, so to speak, so if you think about it, the smaller ones are a problem, but it’s not a big problem. But the larger the sign and how it is installed, that’s a huge cause for concern,” Dr Beharie said.

Reasoning that anyone would feel safe walking by a utility pole on a sidewalk knowing that a trained and qualified person installed a street light that might be above their heads, he said the erection of the posters and flyers do not inspire the same confidence because if they were to fall and injure a pedestrian or damage a motor vehicle, accountability would become an issue.

“If no one takes accountability for who put up these signs, how can we move forward?” he asked.

Turning his attention to the practice in developed countries when it comes to political campaigning, Dr Beharie said yard signs are used instead of paraphernalia being mounted on utility poles.

“You would see, whether it is a representative or any political figure that is campaigning, you would see those on a sidewalk or in somebody else’s yard, instead of on a utility pole,” said Dr Beharie.

A stop sign is partially covered by a political campaign poster mounted on a utility pole in the Corporate Area on Saturday. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

A leaning utility pole in the Corporate Area bearing a political campaign poster.

BEHARIE…it’s a potential risk to pedestrians, drivers, and just the public overall