Energy Networks Association (ENA) has published a document outlining its strategy to deliver improved public safety and to reduce the number of incidents involving members of the public coming into contact with the electricity transmission and distribution network.
The Strategy has been developed by the ENA-DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) – HSE (Health and Safety Executive) Strategic Working Group. The Working Group has been analysing fatal injuries and near misses in the last ten years to discover what groups and activities were most at risk; with the intention of targeting the risks, using a combination of tools.
ENA has already considerable experience in this field, having established the Angling and Overhead Power Line Working Group, which has successfully reduced the number of incidents involving anglers fishing rods touching the overhead lines, by working with all stakeholder groups involved, from anglers, manufacturers, landowners and the power companies.
The Public Safety Task Force of ENA has already started to engage with interested parties and has also published a number of public safety documents dealing with specific activities, all of which are available to download from the ENA website at: www.energynetworks.org/publicsafety along with the public safety document.
Safety Health and Environment Manager, Peter Coyle said “the Industry has a very good safety record and the number of incidents involving the public is very low, but ENA and its member companies are not complacent and are committed to continually working to improve safetyâ€.
