Power Line Safety Campaign Renewed in Wales
The number of fallen power lines on agricultural land in north Wales rose by 58 percent from April 2015 to March 2016, with accidental contact with lines being one of the causes, SP Energy Networks reports.
SP Energy Networks recently renewed its partnership with North Wales Police for a second year with a campaign that urges farmers and farm workers in North Wales to stay safe when working near overhead electric power lines. The number of incidents reported to SP Energy Networks relating to fallen power lines on agricultural land in North Wales continues to rise, increasing by 58 percent from April 2015 to March 2016. And since April 2016, 18 more incidents have been recorded. Most power lines fall because of adverse weather conditions, but some because of accidental contact with the overhead power lines.
SP Energy Networks owns, manages, and maintains more than 5,300 kilometers of underground cable and more than 7,500 km of overhead lines, supplying supply electricity to 234,000 customers across North Wales. Its personnel presented pyrotechnic displays at a show Aug. 9-10 to highlight the potentially devastating consequences of machinery colliding with an overhead power line.
"Even when power lines are brought down they can remain live, and SP Energy Networks is encouraging farmers to be aware of ways to minimise risk and to know the precautions to take in the event of a power emergency. It is vital that they know to keep people and livestock away and contact SP Energy Networks’ 24-hour hotline number on 0800 001 5400 when there is an emergency," the company notes.
"We are delighted to have the support of North Wales Police in helping to spread our safety message. As we approach harvest and farmers begin to work increasingly long days, and often late into the night, it is crucial for them to be aware of the hazards that working in close proximity to overhead lines can present. By showcasing the risks through our pyrotechnics display, we hope we can help workers be informed and to stay safe," said Stephen Stewart, director at SP Energy Networks.
"We are delighted to be supporting SP Energy Networks' campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of overhead power lines. We work closely with rural communities across North Wales and know too well the dangers that are posed to the farming community by these power lines," said Dave Allen of the North Wales Rural Crime Team.
Guidance on working safely near overhead power lines can be found at http://www.spenergynetworks.co.uk/pages/safety.asp or at http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/ais8.htm.
ScottishPower Energy Networks is part of the Iberdrola Group, a global energy company.