Eskom gives life-saving tips

Eskom issued a press statement on 20 August regarding the danger when delivery vehicles or trucks do not steer clear of electricity lines.

The power utility referred to the recent occurrence of four separate electricity contact incidents in Mpumalanga between May and June.

The incidents involved trucks which were either loading or offloading goods/items at shop outlets and in one incident, a truck hooked onto overhead electrical conductors while offloading goods and came into contact with electricity.

Eskom’s investigation team has identified two critical factors contributing to these incidents, namely a lack of supervision as well as negligence by the truck driver and/or the assistant/s. .

They said trucks can easily conduct electricity and any contact poses a risk and may lead to serious or fatal injuries.

Companies are encouraged to contact them to obtain more information about clearance distances between power lines and any structure, object or activity. Power lines have clearance limits which must be respected to achieve zero harm.

They noted the following life-saving tips:

• Never park any vehicles, including trucks, delivery vehicles or forklifts under power lines.

• Never operate cranes or cherry-pickers under power lines.

• Never offload any goods, including building material or beverages, under or near power lines.

• Never carry steel rods or pipes under power lines. If there is no other way, make sure the pipe or rod lies horizontally as far away from the power line as possible.

• Never build a house or plant trees under power lines.

• Teach children not to throw objects (chains, slings, shoes, kites, toys, etc.) onto power lines.

• Teach children not to play near any transformers or to climb any electricity structure.

• Treat all electricity cables as live and never touch it.

• Report any vandalism of Eskom property, illegal connections and electricity theft to Eskom or the police.