Safety is of paramount importance to Northern Powergrid. We are fully committed to promoting the safe use of electricity and electrical equipment, both outside and within the home. If interfered with, electricity can be very dangerous. Not only can it damage equipment and property if wrongly used, but also, if interfered with, it can cause serious injury or even death.
Safe use of electricity in the home
Please be aware of the following electrical safety precautions around the home:
- Always turn the power off before working on any appliance - even when changing a light bulb
- Never use electrical equipment that has a worn flex. Get the flex changed by a competent electrician before the equipment is used again
- When using equipment outdoors, for instance DIY tools or lawnmowers, use a special safety switch known as an RCD, specifically designed for the purpose
- Always call a competent electrician when work on your house wiring is needed
Hazards outside the home
You can avoid the serious dangers associated with the electricity distribution network by following the advice below:
- Avoid playing with kites near overhead power lines
- Do not fish where your rod or line may come close to an overhead power line
- Never enter electricity substations
- Never climb electricity towers or poles
Education in schools
We support children's safety workshops providing real life scenarios depicting potentially dangerous situations. In conjunction with the emergency services, Schools Alcohol & Drugs units and Railtrack, over 60,000 school children receive the safety message each year. We will continue to support initiatives designed to get the safety message to children.
Younger visitors can visit The Fusebox, which is packed full of games, activities and facts about electricity.
Strong safety track record
Northern Powergrid’s subsidiary companies’ proven safety track record is recognised by the Royal Institute for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). All subsidiary companies have been awarded the RoSPA gold medal for the last two consecutive years. These awards recognise consistent efforts to minimise the number of accidents and cases of ill health at work as well as the implementation of good health and safety management systems.
