Contractors warned of overhead electrical wire dangers

Contractors and lorry drivers have been warned about the dangers of overhead electricity lines following an accident earlier this week which deprived customers of power for several hours.

Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) issued the warning after a contractor hit and severed high voltage overhead lines while working at a landfill site in Stoneyford on Monday.

Protection equipment on the network activated immediately to isolate the line and engineers arrived on site to make the situation safe, assess the damage, carry out repairs, an NIE spokesperson said.

Over 230 customers in the area lost electricity supplies following the incident.

Valerie Curran, NIE Customer Relations Manager, said that fortunately the accident – which could have had potentially fatal consequences – had no long-lasting effects.

“Luckily no-one was injured but this could easily have resulted in a fatality. I cannot stress strongly enough the need for caution when working near electricity equipment – electricity can kill and will kill again if it is not treated with respect and safety procedures followed,” she said.

Ms Curran advised workers to adhere to the necessary safety precautions, plan their work carefully and stay at least five metres away from the overhead lines. The gap is necessary as vehicles and equipment do not have to touch lines to become live, electricity can jump gaps.

"Our advice is simple – look up, look out and keep clear of overhead electricity lines,” she added.

Contractors and those working in the vicinity of overhead lines should contact NIE on 08457 643 643 for the company's 'Safety Advice for Contractors' booklet.

(gmcg)