Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) have launched a new safety information campaign "Think before you dig", to raise awareness of safe working practices around the electricity network for anyone in the construction and building trades. The campaign has been devised on the back of European Safety Week, which ran from 22-26 October, and highlighted health and safety issues within the working environment.
Speaking at the launch, NIE's Safety and Risk Manager Roy Coulter expressed hope that raising awareness of site safety procedures among workers will improve standards of health and safety. "Any contact with live electricity equipment can be fatal and contractors must follow correct safety procedures at all times to keep everyone working on site safe. Every week we see instances of safety guidelines being flouted and unnecessary risks taken - safe working must come first for every single person on site. Every contractor, builder, construction worker and DIY enthusiast must familiarise themselves with all services, electrical, gas, water and telecommunications equipment present at, or adjacent to, a work location."
The NIE will issue a mark up drawing, free of charge, which details all the information they have on underground electrical equipment in the area where work is to be carried out. Contractors should make sure this document is on site when working and that all sub-contractors have been fully briefed. As part of the information campaign, contractors can contact NIE to request cab safety stickers for a range of heavy plant machinery, advice leaflets or specialised site visits and talks from a dedicated safety team.
For additional safety advice on this subject, refer to the NIE website at www.niesafety.co.uk.
