ESSENTIAL Energy has repaired power lines at Orange, Gunnedah, Kempsey and Wagga Wagga this month after they were damaged by equipment on construction sites.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It has prompted the state-owned company to ask operators of backhoe and excavation equipment to take care when moving heavy machinery around work sites.
"Incidents such as these pose a serious safety risk to operators and bystanders, and are also inconvenient to local residents as they can cause an unplanned power outage," said Essential Energy spokesman David Crough.
"Taking some simple steps to assess the potential electrical hazards at a work site before starting the job can help to avoid an incident."
Mr Crough advised plant operators to maintain safe clearance distances at all times and appoint a safety observer to guide machinery movements near power lines.
"The use of ground level signage is recommended to help identify where power lines and electrical infrastructure are located," he said.
"Flag markers can also be installed by Essential Energy at a small cost to improve power line visibility for operators.
"The location of underground electrical cables is just as important for backhoe and excavator operators.
"We advise contacting the Dial Before You Dig hotline on 1100 before excavating."
Story from the Daily Liberal
