With children enjoying the bright spring weather and spending more time outdoors, we're reminding parents and guardians to think about electricity safety this holiday period.
With pupils taking a well-earned break from school over the Easter period, it’s essential that children and young people know to stay away from their local power network, including substations and overhead power lines, cables and poles.
Northern Powergrid, who provides free electricity educational safety resources for parents, carers and teachers, is reminding people that retrieving items from substations or its network is extremely dangerous.
If someone spots anything potentially unsafe, or a damaged electricity cable or pole, they must call the company’s 24-hour team on free-phone 105 and specially trained engineers will be sent out to assist.
Gareth Pearson, Northern Powergrid’s Director of Health, Safety and Training, said: “The Easter holiday period is a busy time for all families, but we’d ask parents and guardians to make sure that their children know the dangers of electricity and that parents and older children know it’s us, Northern Powergrid, who they need to call on free-phone 105 if they accidentally kick a football into a substation, or manoeuvre a powered toy, or drone, into our overhead power lines.
“If using drones, make sure they’re well away from our power network and remember our campaign slogan to ‘Look Up It’s Live!’ to check where overhead cables and power lines are located.
“Our free safety animation helps to spread the vital safety message to children, and our free education assets can help entertain children if the weather takes a turn for the worse and you’re looking for indoor learning activities. Download the resources at northernpowergrid.com/education.
To report an electricity network safety issue contact Northern Powergrid on free-phone 105. The national 105 number automatically directs people to their electricity distributor.
Information about power cuts or how to get extra support is also available 24/7 via Facebook and X @NorthPowergrid. For more health and safety tips visit www.northernpowergrid.com/safety.
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