Council, Top Energy power up summer safety message

Far North District Council and local lines company, Top Energy, are encouraging property owners and contractors to prioritise safety by staying informed about critical risks before starting summer construction projects.

Dry, settled weather is the ideal time to undertake building projects and ground excavations, and this has prompted Top Energy to join forces with the council’s consenting and building teams to remind anyone undertaking construction work of the extreme dangers associated with working near power infrastructure.

Trent Blakeman, acting General Manager – Delivery and Operations for Far North District Council says it makes sense for the council to work with Top Energy.

“Our consenting teams can often identify risks before work starts and put property owners in touch with Top Energy.”

Top Energy’s Network Performance Manager Tony Smallman agrees and says that the risks should never be underestimated.

“In recent years, there have been two very serious contacts with power infrastructure in New Zealand. One was fatal and the other resulted in that person being maimed for life. If you’re working near power lines, power poles or buried utilities, you need to follow basic rules to keep yourself and others safe.”

Mr Smallman says most contractors are aware of the need to check before they dig, but there are also significant dangers associated with any work beneath powerlines or next to power poles.

“We advise contractors never to park machinery, such as diggers or cranes, or dump material under powerlines. It’s too easy to forget that the lines are there when it comes time to move that digger, or the truck comes to pick up that bin of waste.”

Another common problem occurs where developers or property owners excavate new driveway entrances from the road.

“You should never operate machinery within 4m of a powerline or excavate any closer than 5m from a power pole, without a written Close Approach consent from the line owner in place, as it is a regulatory requirement,” says Mr Smallman.

Top Energy offers Close Approach Consents free of charge to local contractors and others to help ensure they are safe when working near power infrastructure. The consents ensure Top Energy knows where and what work is being done, that there is a safe working plan, and who to contact in an emergency.

Further information about safe working practices and your legal obligations near power lines and infrastructure, can be found on the Top Energy website.