Navigating Complex Regulatory Standards: How Critter Guard Aligns with Industry Compliance

Regulatory standards are especially important to abide by in the utility sector. The regulations work two ways: pointing utility companies and their employees towards industry best practices and as liability guidance.

Since 2001, Critter Guard has focused on mitigating the damage and liability risks posed by wildlife to utility lines. Following regulations regarding the safe operation of power lines is much easier when birds, rodents, and other wild animals are humanely discouraged from spending time on power lines in the first place.

Understanding Regulatory Standards in the Utility Sector

There are OSHA regulations on maintaining safe utility infrastructure. These center on properly assessing power lines and tools by following a strict process that protects workers and the public. These include high-visibility markings for sensitive electrical equipment, and clearances for equipment based on the voltage.

These standards ensure safety, reliability, and efficiency are maintained, and that signs of failure, like those related to damage caused by wildlife, are diagnosed early. Necessarily, these regulations limit the legal modifications of utility lines.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service encourages utility companies to modify power lines and other electrical utility infrastructure to safely discourage wildlife from dangerous areas. But such modifications must be in line with regulations.

Challenges Faced by Utility Companies in Compliance

There are three of the most common challenges and consequences of non-compliance:

• Fines. Improperly maintaining utility lines can lead to major fines. Damage caused by wildlife is expensive to repair, but state and local fines are often much more costly.
• Service disruptions. Customers may find themselves in a difficult, or even catastrophic situation, because of something as simple as damage from birds nesting in utility lines.
• Safety hazards. Animals can damage lines and other electrical equipment in ways that make maintenance unsafe.

Critter Guard's Commitment to Compliance

There are plenty of intuitive ways to retrofit wildlife control equipment on utility lines. But the question of compliance looms large over any DIY methods. Critter Guard designs its products with compliance in mind from the start.

Our Line Guard product humanely discourages wildlife from crawling along lines, with a system of rotating jump barriers combined with independent line rollers. Pole Guard also uses plates and rollers to prevent critters from crawling up poles in the first place.

Interested in learning more about humane, safe, and compliant wildlife control systems for utility companies? Don't hesitate to contact us today to learn how Critter Guard can help lower your maintenance costs and keep you out of regulatory hot water.