WE WANT PEOPLE TO ENJOY FISHING, BUT TO DO SO SAFELY

Our new partnership with the national governing body for angling will help us ‘catch’ our target audience and share vital safety education to anglers across the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire.

Andrew Dudman, Safety Engineer, explains why it’s important to engage with people who enjoy fishing, so they continue to fish safely and avoid coming into contact with the power network.

Going fishing? Got a bite? Keep power lines in your sight.

It’s likely not something people think of when planning a fishing trip with friends or family, but the dangers of electricity should be top of your list when deciding where to fish, what rod you need, what the weather forecast is, what type of bait and what snacks you’re going to take.

As a Safety Engineer for the past five years, my role is to help make sure people return home after a rewarding day and make sure their next catch isn’t deadly.

We want people to enjoy fishing, but to do so safely.

Before becoming a Safety Engineer, I was an Overhead Linesman and this is where I first became involved in knowing about the importance of avoiding accidental contact with overhead power lines – going out to sites to repair power lines which had been damaged by fishing equipment coming into contact, or getting too close, to our electricity network.

Power lines on wooden poles carry voltages up to 132,000 volts and rods and equipment don’t even have to touch the network to cause burns, injury or even death, as electricity can jump gaps - something not many people may realise.

My role, and the role of the Safety Team, led by our Health and Safety Delivery Manager, helps provide advice to customers, members of the public and front line workers about how to work safely with electricity in line with health and safety legislation.

Earlier this month (August) we launched a partnership summer safety campaign with the Angling Trust as part of their Summer of Fishing initiative. Collaborative working fosters better experiences and outcomes for both Northern Powergrid and angling safety. By sharing guidance and best practice we can both keep anglers well away from overhead powerlines. This will reduce the number of accidental contacts, making sure anglers go home safely to their loved ones after a productive and safe day fishing.

We want anglers to take note of our advice and to Look Up It’s Live! when fishing - look up, look to the side, and look behind when carrying rods and reeling in their catch. Always take note of warning signs, and remember people don’t need to make contact with power lines to receive an electric shock as electricity can jump gaps.

If anglers tackle safety before setting off and ‘look up before they hook up’, they can help avoid contact with our power network. If you do make contact, take leaping strides away from the area and ensure one foot is off the ground at all times. Warn others to stay away and maintain a five-metre distance.

Call us on 105 for assistance and dial 999 in an emergency.

By following these safety messages, and sharing education with your angling friends, you can help save lives and make sure fishing remains safe and enjoyable for all.

As a representative on the national Energy Networks Association (ENA) Public Safety Committee, a panel which brings together experts from each of its members, health and safety of the public, our customers and our workforce is a priority. We concentrate on reaching people whose activities – through work or leisure – could bring them close or in contact with overhead lines or underground cables.

The Committee has produced a series of public safety leaflets and cab stickers through extensive consultation with member organisations and key stakeholders, including the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), and the leaflets contain safety advice to members of the general public and industry workers who may come into close proximity or contact with our assets. Download the leaflets at www.northernpowergrid.com/safety.

By Andrew Dudman, Safety Engineer.