Dig with caution near underground cables, warns NIE

24/07/2007

Around 1300 customers in the Greencastle area lost electricity supplies yesterday (Monday 23rd July) following contractor damage to a high voltage underground cable.  
 
The damage was caused when a contractor working on the M2 Motorway slip road hit and damaged a high voltage electricity cable at 11.25am. NIE emergency teams responded immediately, assessing the damage and restoring all customers by 1.00pm. Work to repair the damaged sections of cable is being carried out today (Tuesday 24th July).  
 
Valerie Curran, NIE Customer Relations Manager for the area once again urged anyone working in the vicinity of underground cables to follow safety precautions. “Unfortunately this is another example of the correct safety procedures being overlooked. Luckily in this incident no-one was injured, but the results could have been very different. We would urge everyone to exercise extreme caution when working in the vicinity of underground cables, using safe working practices such as digging trial holes and digging by hand to avoid any damage to or alteration of the location of the cable. Any incident of damage to the electricity network can place those working at risk from injury, and cause inconvenience to customers by disrupting electricity supplies.  
 
“Again we would urge anyone working near underground electricity cables to follow strict safety guidelines. With good working practices the number of these incidences could be dramatically reduced.”  
 
NIE currently offers contractors a wide range of advice and assistance to help them avoid underground cables including advice leaflets, videos and maps and diagrams of the underground electricity network. Before you start work, contact NIE on 08457 643 643 to request marked drawings of the underground electricity network, free of charge. For additional safety advice check the NIE Safety website www.niesafety.co.uk.  
 
 

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