PUBLIC ELECTRICAL SAFETY AWARENESS PLAN 2015/16

Transcription

1 PUBLIC ELECTRICAL SAFETY AWARENESS PLAN 2015/16

2 CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction Purpose PESAP objectives Compliance Identified targeted groups Safety commitment Risk identification and analysis Business risk Incident analysis Customer shocks neutral integrity Conductor strike Unauthorised contact with electricity assets Electrical safety for primary school students Strategic awareness projects Australian Traffic Network (radio reads) Electrical Safety Week Life support customers Householders High load vehicle impacts Pole black spot program Conductor strikes Contact Us... 8

3 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Purpose The purpose of this document is to outline Endeavour Energy s 2015/16 Public Electrical Safety Awareness Plan (PESAP). The PESAP has been developed to raise public awareness of electrical hazards present in the electrical energy environment, our approach to safety and potential hazards, how target groups are identified and provide precautions to avoid electricity incidents. Natural events include wind storms, electrical storms, floods and bushfires and are the number one cause of public safety incidents and whilst control over natural disasters is limited, electrical safety risk also stems from other causes including tingle or neutral integrity faults, striking overhead and underground lines with construction machinery and high load vehicles, inadvertent contact through recreational activities and unauthorised contact with electricity facilities and sites. Strategic projects are designed to create greater awareness in response to an analysis of risk and incident reports. These projects target key public audiences to help raise their awareness of the hazards they face through their interaction with the Endeavour Energy network. The provisions of the PESAP will be implemented over a 12 month period commencing 1 July PESAP objectives The objectives of the Public Electrical Safety Awareness Plan are to: raise awareness of electrical safety and the hazards related to Endeavour Energy s network assets and the distribution of electricity raise awareness of electrical safety amongst target groups raise awareness of the safe use of electrical equipment remind the public of hazardous situations involving electricity 1.3 Compliance The new addition of the Electrical Supply (Safety and Network Management) Regulation 2014 has been released and came into effect April There are a few changes that relate to the way the PESAP is developed and implemented. The new regulation describes our requirement to ensure a safety management system is in place. The content of this safety management system is in accordance with AS5577:2013, whereby the fundamental principles cover the safety of the network and persons working near or on the network, including the provision of public safety. 1.4 Identified targeted groups Current target groups identified are: Tradespeople/Outdoor Workers high risk Do-it-Yourself (DIY) home renovators and home maintenance moderate risk moderate risk

4 life support customers moderate risk school students moderate risk public and private easements - bushfire management high risk emergency services personnel high risk 2.0 Safety commitment At Endeavour Energy safety excellence is one of our values. To achieve this we: make safety our number one priority do not participate in unsafe acts, and challenge unsafe behaviours think before we act lead by example take responsibility for the health and safety of ourselves and others This philosophy of safety excellence is central to the business and is instrumental in all internal and external communications and actions. Our objective is to further reduce the number of our worker, contractor and public safety incidents and injuries associated with our network. 3.0 Risk identification and analysis 3.1 Business risk Public safety risk addressed in this PESAP has been identified and recorded in the Endeavour Energy Risk Management Plan as Business Risk (BR) 1.1 uncontrolled discharge or contact with electricity. This is an incident where there is an uncontrolled release or discharge of electricity on or near the network which has the potential to or does cause an electric shock or injury to a worker or member of the public. The projects listed in this PESAP detail how this uncontrolled discharge of electricity could occur in relation to the targeted public groups. Further risk analysis of network incidents, which have potential to impact public safety, is determined and programs are developed and implemented to address the risks that have been, or have the potential to be, hazardous to the public. Our existing programs are reviewed and updated to align with new information, trends and research outcomes, while new campaigns and programs are developed and implemented where a gap is identified. 3.2 Incident analysis This section analyses incidents of significant risk, focusing on customer shocks due to neutral integrity issues, conductor strikes and unauthorised contact incidents Customer shocks neutral integrity The broader community may be susceptible to electricity safety hazards through natural incidents or electrical faults in and around the home. The number of customer shocks caused by neutral integrity issues, usually experienced by feeling a tingle from a fixed or portable appliance due to corroded connectors has slightly increased from last financial year, with 164 reported incidents during 2014/15 FY and 147 during 2013/14 FY. 3

5 Current initiatives that are already in place will continue to run with a major focus on a public shocks media campaign, which is a joint project with Ausgrid and Essential Energy. It will be aimed at reducing the number of shocks caused by defective appliances and not using qualified electricians or contractors for home renovations and/or maintenance Conductor strike Conductor strike mechanisms include incidents of contact with underground and overhead cables by members of the public. There were 35 conductor strikes in 2014/15, a slight decrease from 2013/14 (37). Targeted awareness campaigns, such as Dial Before You Dig and High Load continue to be made available to relevant industry bodies and local councils. Safety resources on the prevention of conductor strikes are being developed and implemented, in consultation with Ausgrid, Essential Energy and WorkCover NSW. As outlined in the below graphs, there was a slight decrease in underground cable strikes from the 2013/14 FY (16) to the 2014/15 FY (14) and a slight increase in the overhead cable strikes, 16 in the 2013/14 FY to 22 in the 2014/15 FY. Public worker incidents Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun public worker - SENI 2013/14 public worker - SENI 2014/15 4

6 Public worker underground cable strike Public worker overhead cable strikes Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun 0 Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun public worker - underground 2013/14 public worker - underground 2014/15 public worker - overhead 2013/14 public worker - overhead 2014/ Unauthorised contact with electricity assets Endeavour Energy has an obligation to do all that is reasonable to prevent unauthorised contact with electricity assets. Over the past four (4) years, a focus on security breaches in relation to electricity substations has occurred and involved a re-fencing program, and public awareness programs about safety around substations and reporting suspicious behaviour that may lead to copper theft. During the 2014/15 FY, there was a 70% decrease in reported copper theft, current initiatives will be rerun and highlighted during 2015/16. The work surrounding security breaches and public safety initiatives seem to have had a positive impact and are reflected in the decline in reported incidents Electrical safety for primary school students Endeavour Energy works closely with schools to educate children on electricity, the way it is generated and travels. Part of this education process includes highlighting the dangers of electricity and complemented with communication ensuring an increase in the awareness of the dangers of substations. During the 2014/15 FY, 96% of schools within Endeavour Energy s network area registered and took part in Electrical Safety Week, an increase from 91% in the 2013/14 FY. Endeavour Energy received positive feedback from all of the schools that completed provided feedback forms. This feedback indicated increased electrical safety awareness among school children. 5

7 4.0 Strategic awareness projects The following table outlines the strategic projects planned for 2015/16 in response to an analysis of risk and incident reports. These projects target key public audiences to help raise their awareness of the hazards they face through their interaction with the Endeavour Energy network. A variety of communication methods will be used to reach our target audiences. Media releases, radio, website and printed materials will be used to communicate our key messages. 4.1 Australian Traffic Network (radio reads) Business risk - customer shocks, conductor strikes and unauthorised contact with electricity report all shocks and tingles to Endeavour Energy Tradespeople/outdoor always dial 1100 before you shocks and tingles workers dig and stay well clear of Do-It-Yourself Do-It-Yourself home underground power lines Dial Before You Dig renovators/maintenance keep a safe distance or overhead power lines emergency services clearance from overhead personnel copper theft power lines graffiti always report suspicious activities around the network to CrimeStoppers 4.2 Electrical Safety Week Business risk - conductor strikes and unauthorised contact with electricity ESW 2015: play in open spaces away 96% participation of from electricity poles and Endeavour Energy s power lines registered schools school children 4.3 Life support customers approved and endorsed by the Department of Education and Communities (DEC) and Catholic Education Commission 100% teachers are satisfied that resources provided address electrical safety Business risk Community awareness initiative stay away from electricity substations and power equipment never put a metal object in a toaster or power point keep water away from electrical appliances and power cords if you see a dangerous situation, tell an adult targeted media and web plan ahead and have a backup plan initiatives for: life support customers local councils register with your network provider and retailer medical practitioners 6

8 4.4 Householders Business risk - customer shocks and unauthorised contact with electricity report all shocks and tingles to Endeavour Energy throw away damaged appliances always hire a licensed electrician for all electrical works a targeted media be prepared for storms and campaign, aimed at other dangerous conditions reducing the number of safety around fallen power Do-It-Yourself home shocks caused by lines - they may still be live renovators/maintenance defective appliances and not using qualified trees and other vegetation too public and private electricians close to power lines may easements bushfire preparation cause fires or other safety storm safety risks such as fallen live wires easement trees need to be trimmed to encroachment provide a safety clearance from power lines always check with the network provider where easements are located do not build/locate structures within registered easements 4.5 High load vehicle impacts Business risk conductor strikes and customer shocks keep a safe distance or Tradespeople/outdoor clearance from overhead workers power lines emergency services personnel 4.6 Pole black spot program review existing shared resource/s for high load and revamp in consultation with all network providers and key stakeholders, facilitating consistent messaging to identified target groups Business risk conductor strikes and unauthorised contact with electricity always check with your network provider when transporting goods that may be deemed a high load an analysis of the RMS to improve driver safety collision data is undertaken and sites reduce the trauma associated with high frequency with vehicle impacts involving power poles collisions are relocated 7

9 4.7 Conductor strikes Business risk - customer shocks and conductor strikes new initiative that engages with all network providers, always dial 1100 before you WorkCover NSW and dig and stay well clear of other industry bodies to underground power lines present aligned messaging Tradespeople/outdoor workers emergency services personnel public and private easements training initiatives for industry bodies and local councils distribution of newly developed factsheets, targeting contractors, industry bodies and local councils, including: - scaffolding clearances - underground cable strikes - overhead cable strikes - high load vehicles consider appropriate clearance when working around power lines as the safe distance can vary according to the size and voltage of the power line keep a safe distance or clearance from overhead power lines look up to check the location and distance of power lines before beginning any outdoor activity 5.0 Contact Us 8