Stop And Ask
Emergency Contact Numbers
Before beginnning any excavations:
• Make sure you have up to date copies of cable record plans
CE Electic UK
(North East England) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0800 668 877
(Yorkshire) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0800 375 675
• Make sure that a competent person using a Cable Avoidance
Electricity North West Ltd
(North West England) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0800 195 4141
• Mark the location of cables on the ground surface.
• Always assume that cables are live unless informed, in
SP Energy Networks
(Central & Southern Scotland) . . . . . . . . . . . 0845 272 7999
(North Wales, Merseyside & Cheshire) . . . . . . 0845 272 2424
• By hand, dig trial holes to locate the exact position of all
SSE Power Distribution
(North Scotland) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0800 300 999
(Southern England) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0800 072 7282
from the electricity distribution company.
Tool (CAT) locates all of the cables shown on these plans.
writing, otherwise.
cables. Always use a spade or shovel - never use a pick, fork
or power tool.
If you are in any doubt about whether an electricity underground
cable, overhead line or other piece of equipment is safe, always
assume it is LIVE, keep away from it and contact your local
electricity company.
If you damage an overhead line or an underground cable – stay
away from it. Even if you are sure the power is off, REMEMBER it
can be switched back on at any time without warning – so assume
that it is live and dangerous – even if the cable or line is severed
and laying on the ground. Do not approach the damage until
given the go-ahead to do so by a representative of the electricity
company.
UK Power Networks
(East Anglia) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0800 783 8838
(London) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0800 028 0247
(South East) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0800 783 8866
Western Power Distribution
(East Midlands) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(West Midlands) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (South Wales) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (South West England) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Safety Information
for Sports Turf
Industry
0800 056 8090
0800 328 1111
0800 052 0400
0800 365 900
National Grid
(National Transmission System) . . . . . . . . . . 0800 40 40 90
Further Information
Avoidance of danger from overhead power lines - HSE GS6
Avoiding danger from underground services - HSE HSG47
(www.hse.gov.uk)
Communication Information
Version 2 - August 2011
For advice, telephone your local electricity company. The
telephone number is in the telephone book under ‘Electricity’.
Alternatively log on to the Energy Networks Association website
www.energynetworks.org
This leaflet is published by ENA
(Energy Networks Association)
on behalf of electricity companies.
© ENA 2011
BE SAFE, KEEP AWAY FROM
ELECTRICITY OVERHEAD LINES
AND UNDERGROUND CABLES
Overhead power lines criss-cross the country, and whilst often
unnoticed, they are essential to provide electricity to cities, towns,
villages and rural communities. The overhead power lines carry
voltages ranging from 230 volts (domestic voltage) up to 400,000
volts. Even domestic voltage can be fatal and high voltage
electricity can jump large gaps.
People die each year due to accidental contact with overhead
power lines, whilst others suffer life changing injury with the lives
of families also suffering as a result.
The risk of danger can be considerably reduced by following some
simple safety tips.
General key messages:
• Any overhead power lines, underground cables, electricity
substations or other electrical equipment may be live and
could kill you. Do not touch them directly or through any
object or person that is in contact with them – even if you
believe the power is off, it could be turned on again without
warning.
• Electricity can jump gaps so even getting too close to lines
can be dangerous. Many objects can also conduct electricity
such as trees, string, rope and water.
• Most overhead power lines use bare conductors and are not
insulated. Rubber or plastic soles on shoes or boots will not
protect you from receiving an electric shock.
• Do not assume wires on wood poles are telephone lines
– most overhead power lines are supported on poles.
• If an overhead power line has fallen to the ground it may still
be live, keep more than 5 metres away – the current can
travel along the ground, through objects such as fences or
metal objects and through water or other liquid. You do not
need to touch the power line to be killed by it.
• If you are in a vehicle when the line falls then, if it is safe to
do so, remain in the vehicle until the emergency services or
electricity company tell you it is safe to get out.
• If you are stood near to or need to get out of a vehicle that is
closer than 5 metres to a fallen overhead power line then you
should jump clear making leaping strides so that one foot is
off the ground at all times until you are a safe distance away.
Do not return to the vehicle.
Staying Safe - What you need to do
During work
Before you start work
As well as the risk of an electric shock to you and anyone working
with you, be aware that any damage to power lines, poles or stay
wires could cause the power lines to fall and be a serious risk to
people in the area.
The first thing to do before starting work at a new site is to have
a good look around to spot the position of overhead lines. You
may also need to obtain local cable records from the electricity
company.
Although electricity poles should carry a yellow “Danger of Death”
notice, it is very difficult to distinguish between telephone and
electricity overhead lines, so, to be on the safe side, always
assume that any wires in the area carry live electricity.
Never assume that any overhead power lines are dead or
insulated – always assume they are live and potentially
dangerous.
Also bear in mind that electricity can jump gaps and travel through
ropes and wood, especially when wet.
Be careful when carrying ladders, scaffold tube and other long
objects in the vicinity of overhead power lines. Remember that
metal and anything wet conducts electricity, so always carry long
objects parallel with the ground – never vertically. Contact with
a live power line through a long object is just as dangerous as
touching the power line directly.
Be careful when using rotovators to avoid making contact with
underground electricity cables. These were orginally buried at a
depth of 0.4 - 0.45 metres but over time may have moved closer
to the surface due to changes in the ground level.
Take extra care when moving football and rugby goal posts and
transportable netting for use behind football goals, as their height
may bring them dangerously close to overhead lines.