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Public safety is the key issue that drives our community programme. We recognise that World Class Health and Safety should not be restricted to the confines of our workplace and have a number of initiatives in place to provide expert information and advice.
Our pioneering safety education programme scooped the Community Initiative of the Year award at The Utility Industry Achievement Awards 2008. This innovative programme teaches primary school children aged four to eleven years the potential dangers of electricity in the home and outdoors environment. The programme is taught by qualified school teachers and is linked in with the school curriculum in our operating areas across Scotland, England and Wales. The programme continues to be a powerful tool reaching over 58,000 pupils and counting during this year alone.
“It was cool; full of facts; easy to understand; entertaining; learnt lots of facts about electricity; I now know how to keep myself safe; told me what not to do.”
Pupil at Upton Westlea Primary, Chester
"Programme presented brilliantly - visual aids were effective and presentation was both funny and informative. Resource pack provided was also of excellent quality and we are looking forward to using it within the classroom”
Carmyle Primary, Glasgow
This pack, full of lesson plans, activities and all the resources needed for primary schools to conduct their own electricity safety lesson is provided free of charge to schools which have received the classroom education programme and on request via the website.
The PowerWise website, at www.powerwise.org.uk is packed with lesson plans, interactive games and electricity information that both teachers and parents can use. The website caters for both primary and secondary school children, as well as primary school children. There have been over 38,000 hits to the website from January to August 2009.
Support is given to innovative, dedicated safety education centres operated by local public authorities within our network areas. The centres are based at DangerPoint in North Wales; and at The Risk Factory in Edinburgh and are designed to educate and raise awareness of accidents, injury prevention and personal safety in a safe and controlled environment. These centres provide realistic settings, specifically designed for children and young people, as a background for safety education through hands on experiences in the home, on the roads, at the farm or in the country, and on building sites.
Crucial Crew is a national experiential learning event where children take part in a range of fast-paced scenarios designed to raise awareness of the dangers of electricity and other common hazards. Energy Networks employees volunteer along with the Emergency services to convey vital safety messages to thousands of children each year.
As well as schools, Energy Networks provides electrical safety information to the public, including high-risk industrial sectors, such as farming, agriculture and leisure; and contractor associations and trade bodies.
Our team of public safety specialists have published guidance and feature articles in a number of trade and industry journals such as those issued by the Institution of Occupational Health, and the National Farmers Union. We also have a range of literature available on our website, you can access this by clicking here.
We recognise that electricity can present a potential hazard to other industries and have sent targeted mailshots/booklets to hundreds of trade groups and associations including local authority planners, agricultural groups, universities, boating and yachting marinas, leisure aircraft users and balloonists.
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