After an alarming increase in heavy vehicles and machinery contacting power lines, Energex is appealing to workers in high-risk industries to Look Up and Live and Dial Before you Dig.
There were 432 accidental contacts with power lines in Queensland last year compared to 360 reported in the previous twelve months.
Eleven of those incidents were in Logan which compares to only three in 2020.
Community Safety Manager Aaron Smith says,“We are especially concerned that incidents in South East Queensland have more than doubled.
“If you are working around power lines, whether they are overhead or underground, there are tools and information available to help you reduce the risks.”
“Use our free Look Up and Live mobile app to plan work near the overhead network and contact Dial Before You Dig to check the location of underground cables on your worksite.”
Last year there were marked increases in powerline contacts involving road transport, construction and demolition, earthmoving and agriculture.
Mr Smith says,“we understand that truck drivers have a lot of risks to think about on the road, but anyone who is in control of an oversized vehicle or carrying a high or wide load needs to be aware of power poles and power lines because their life is on the line.”
“Contacting power lines could be lethal, cause serious injuries or destroy your plant and equipment, so please Look Up and Live and Dial Before you Dig.”
“We are working together with high-risk industries to make worksites safe because we all agree that any incident is one too many.”
