Help keep yourself and anyone working with you safe, by following these rules:
- Working outside? Look Out, Look Up! for overhead power lines. Always assume power lines are live and do not touch or get close to them, particularly when using ladders or similar equipment. Remember, electricity can jump through the air.
- Digging in the garden? Dial before you dig. Check for underground cables and pipes first. Plan your work carefully and contact your local energy network operator if you aren’t sure. Find out who they are by entering your postcode at energynetworks.org/postcode.
- Felling trees? If you are felling trees and there are lines within two tree heights, or you are cutting back within two branch lengths of an overhead power line, you must contact your local electricity network operator for advice before starting work.
- If you are doing any work or moving anything and there is a risk that contact could be made with overhead power lines, you must contact your local electricity network operator for advice before starting.
- If you see damage to power lines, keep well clear. Call 105 for free or, if there's an immediate danger to life, dial 999.
- Remember that if you’re working close to gas pipes, safety rules and regulations apply. You can find more at energynetworks.org/customers/building-works-gas-pipes-need-to-know.
Jamie Reeve, Head of Safety, Health and Environment at Energy Networks Association, which represents the UK’s energy network operators, said:
“Bank Holidays can be the chance to finally tackle that DIY project that’s been waiting over summer – but the same safety rules apply whatever the date. Safety is the top priority of the UK’s network operators, and by following these simple rules, we can help everyone avoid any accidents.”
Notes to editor
Background information
- For more safety information, please visit https://www.energynetworks.org/campaigns/look-out-look-up and https://www.energynetworks.org/campaigns/thinkbeforeyoudig
- As part of our safety programme, ENA are hosting our first ever ‘Public Safety' conference - We're aiming to engage with people from across the sector and beyond to raise awareness of the latest safety issues and discuss the best ways to reduce harm. Find out more and register here: https://bit.ly/3Q5wOIG
About us
Energy Networks Association (ENA) is the industry body representing the energy networks. Our members include every major electricity network operator in the UK. The electricity networks are at the heart of the energy transition. They directly employ more than 26,000 people in the UK, including 1,500 apprentices. They are spending and investing £33bn in our electricity grids over the coming years, to ensure safe, reliable and secure energy supplies for the millions of homes and businesses reliant on power every day.
Press contacts
You can contact ENA's press office by emailing press@energynetworks.org. For urgent or out-of-hours enquiries from journalists, please call 0204 599 7691.