Stay Safe Together
Over the next five months we'll be running a safety series covering the key things you need to know when it comes to staying safe around our network.
Following Cyclone Gabrielle, Northpower’s networks have seen a higher-than-normal number of faults, likely relating to minor components being stressed during that storm which are now failing.
We anticipate the situation will return to normal over time, but given a higher number of faults than normal we are lifting our focus on the critical safety features and processes around the network to ensure that, where faults do occur, or there is a need to work around our lines, this occurs in a way that is safe for everyone.
Northpower’s asset inspection processes, and fault processes keep a watchful eye on the status of the network, and will typically identify any problems with the assets, however we would like to collaborate with everyone to help identify any issues or emerging problems so that they can be rectified quickly.
Key areas we’ll be covering over the next five months:
- Safe Guy Wires;
- Lines Down;
- Vegetation;
- Consumer owned lines, and
- Working safely around electricity equipment
Safe Guy Wires
What’s a guy wire? Guy wires run from the top of the pole to the ground and play a key role in ensuring the stability of the pole, and the insulators on the wire provide protection from electricity at ground level if anything goes wrong at the top of the pole.
For everyone’s safety, its important that guy wires:
• Have an insulator on them
• Are well anchored, intact, and not compromised by severe rust.
• Are nice and tight (not slack at all)
We're out and about every day checking the safety of our 5500km of lines but your real time “eyes on the ground” can help us with that.
If you do come across a guy wire that has come loose or doesn’t have an insulator on it, send us a photo with the location to info@northpower.com or call us on 0800 667 847.
Let’s stay safe together!
