INTRODUCTION

The ENA and EEA Boards established a joint Public Safety Working Group in 2014 with the following objectives:

In support of these objectives the Working Group has developed a 5 year strategy focusing on agreed priority areas. As appropriate, national messages will be developed where a consistent approach across the whole of New Zealand would be beneficial. The intention is that individual companies will be able to select national topics that complement their local situations and company programmes.

The role of the Public Safety Working Group is to manage work in support of the strategy and to encourage and facilitate the sharing of information and other resources as well as monitoring and reviewing any potential changes to legislation/regulations relating to public safety.

STRATEGY

With the support of WorkSafe NZ, ENA and EEA Member Companies together with retailers will work together to reduce the number of incidents, in particular fatalities and injuries, caused to members of the public, including third party contractors, coming into contact with electricity supply industry assets.

An analysis of incidents involving the public indicates that the priority areas are:

- Asset security

This includes wilful interference, vandalism and metal theft as well as trespass (e.g. in substations and around lakes, canals and discharge channels).

- Accidental Contact

This includes contact with both overhead and underground cables etc.

We will work closely with those most at risk to educate them of the risks of working or carrying out other activities near to electricity industry assets.

These include:

Third party contractors / workers (e.g.)

- Farmers and agricultural contractors;

- Forestry workers;

- General contractors;

General public (e.g.)

- School children;

- DIYers;

- Owners of private service lines

- Seasonal tourists;

We will also prioritise activities that are likely to place people close to electricity industry assets.

These include:

Third party contractors / workers

- Vegetation management/tree trimming;

- Broadband roll out;

General public

- Recreation (e.g. boatees, balloonists);

- Home maintenance.

To support these aims we will:

- produce specific safety information for identified at-risk groups; and

- use a wide variety of communication channels to help ensure that we get the safety information to those who most need it.

- share best practice and lessons learned from public safety incidents;

- ensure that public safety risks are considered when planning specific projects;

- ensure that public safety risks are adequately addressed in internal management systems;

- work with WorkSafe NZ to help ensure that its Public Safety targets are met.

PRIORITIES 2017 – 2020

Develop “Does it look right” Campaign

Objective

To encourage members of the public to report to local electricity companies:

- Anything that looks too close to ESI assets
- Anything that looks damaged or “not right” that might pose a safety risk e.g. damaged or open gates to substations.

Messages

PSWG to develop and agree key messages and target audiences - If something doesn’t look right – report it – you may save someone’s life.

Develop “Safety around Waterways” campaign

Other topics:

- Metal theft

- Roading contractors

- Sharing lessons from the broadband roll out.

- Forestry (work with Forestry Industry Safety Council)

- Private lines

Specific annual priorities will be agreed by the Public Safety Working Group by the final meeting of the previous year.