Safety message issued ahead of school holidays

A safety message has been issued by Electricity North West ahead of the upcoming school holidays.

The firm, which operates the region's power network, is urging parents and guardians to warn their youngsters about the dangers of playing around powerful electricity equipment. And to look out for dangers themselves.

With thousands set to enjoy the outdoors over the coming weeks, Electricity North West is calling on people to be cautious around its power network by looking out, looking up, and taking note of its substations and yellow danger of death signs.

Paul Killilea, Electricity North West's asset and investment director, said: "We're hopefully seeing a turn in the weather which is allowing more people to get outdoors and enjoy the fresh air.

"For everybody's safety, its vital people are alert as to what is around them, quite often, if it's out of sight, it's out of mind and we want people to be aware of the power network.

"Our network is made up of overhead electricity lines, underground cables, substations and many pylons and wood poles with some operating up to 132,000 volts. To help alert the public, we have bright yellow 'Danger of death' signs around the network.

"We want everybody to enjoy the great outdoors safely and we just ask everybody to take note of their surroundings.

"If you're doing DIY, particularly digging, you can check for underground cables via our plans on the safety pages on our website. And, if you're using ladders, always look out for overhead lines which could be connected to your property."

People are warned not to use drones or long tent poles near overhead lines as electricity can jump from the lines and travel down directly to the person holding them, causing serious injury or even worse. Anglers are asked to look out for overhead lines when casting and if people lose a ball or Frisbee in a substation, they are urged not to retrieve it.

"We operate 24/7, 365 days a year and if people lose belongings within the grounds of our substation, we urge people to stay out and contact us via 105," added Paul.

"Our teams will respond and retrieve the item safely, it's crucial people aren't tempted to go and get it themselves, we have yellow danger of death signs for a reason."

Anybody who sees anything dangerous in or around the power network can call Electricity North West on 105. For more safety advice, including a safety game for kids, go to www.enwl.co.uk/safety. Electricity North West also has resources aimed at primary and secondary school children which people can visit here.

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