Fredericksburg, Va. - It seems innocent enough. You are having a yard sale or need to post a lost-pet flier, so you staple a few signs to utility poles.
 
What you might not realize, however, is that those signs and the staples or other items used to secure them pose a serious safety hazard. It is also illegal.
 
Staples, nails and tacks used to hang signs - as well as the signs themselves - present dangers to Rappahannock Electric Cooperative's (REC) linemen, who climb poles when restoring power following storms or while performing routine maintenance to ensure system reliability.
 
Posters or other objects (birdhouses, balloons, flags, and even basketball goals) can create dangerous obstacles. Also, the nails and tacks left behind from signs can snag utility workers' boots or puncture safety clothing, making linemen vulnerable to slipping or even electrocution.
 
In addition to being hazardous, tampering with utility poles can be costly. Posting signs or attaching other objects to utility poles is a violation of Virginia state law. REC encourages member-owners to contact local zoning officers to inquire about where signage can be posted legally.
 
REC provides electric service to over 170,000 connections in parts of 22 Virginia counties. With its general office in Fredericksburg, Va., the Cooperative operates and maintains more than 17,000 miles of power lines through its service area, which ranges from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay. For more information about REC, please visit www.myrec.coop. Follow REC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.