September 4, 2020
Ergon Energy is pleading for all heavy machinery operators to take care and stay “line aware” after four separate incidents of equipment hitting powerlines during the past 48 hours.
There have been 346 serious incidents involving plant equipment this year in regional Queensland – including seven during past week and 26 last month.
“We’ve had excavators and cane harvesters hitting poles and bringing down live powerlines in separate events in different parts of the State in the past few days – Tara, Ingham, Beaudesert and the Burdekin,” area manager Nick Grant said.
“It’s obvious they didn’t see the poles and wires because they hit them.
“All the operators involved are very lucky not to have been killed, but no one should rely on luck when it comes to working around electricity.”
Nick said anyone operating heavy machinery on worksites where there are powerlines should plan ahead to ensure they’re familiar with where poles and wires are located.
“Ergon Energy has the Look Up And Live app on the App Store or at www.lookupandlive.com.au,” Nick said.
“It can help map out risks for operators to show where those power poles and wires are, especially if they are operating machinery in unfamiliar territory.
“Most of us have mobile phones these days and free, lifesaving safety advice is at our fingertips.”
Nick said anyone involved in an incident that brings down powerlines should stay in the vehicle, call 000 and wait for help.
