19 July 2006 00:00 Central Networks trains champions to drive essential safety message home and reduces damages caused by utilities and contractors

Central Networks, the electricity distribution company for central England, has reduced damages to its network caused by other utility companies and contractors by over 15% in the first half of this year.

Every year thousands of customers across the East Midlands are left without power when workers from utilities and local authorities dig without first finding out where underground power cables are located, risking serious injury.

Through its CableSafe programme, Central Networks is committed to further improving its record by training up ‘champions’ inside the leading utility companies and local authorities to drive home safety advice.

Central Networks, which is part of E.ON UK, has trained over 250 contractors across the East Midlands on safe digging and working practices so far this year.

Graham Coles, CableSafe manager, said: “These results show that the safety message is getting through loud and clear. By training individuals within the utility companies and local authorities to be up to speed with the latest safety information, we will continue to see reductions in the number of power cuts and injuries resulting from cable damages.”

The courses also include placing a greater emphasis on awareness of overhead cables.

Graham said: “We have taken a very strong proactive approach and our courses help sub-contractors working on jobs such as local authority housing refurbishment to get all the information they need to stay safe and avoid contact with overhead cables.”

Anyone who is working near Central Networks power cables can get free information and advice by contacting CableSafe by visiting www.central-networks.co.uk/cablesafe or by calling 0800 0150927.

Ends

Notes to editors:
• Central Networks is the new name for Midlands Electricity and East Midlands Electricity. The company brings power to 4.9 million customers across Central England through 133,000km of underground and overhead cables – enough to go round the Earth almost four times – and via almost 97,000 substations;
• Central Networks covers an area from the Peak District in the north to parts of Bristol in the south, and from the Welsh Borders to the Lincolnshire Coast.

For further information contact:
Jamee Majid on 024 7642 5011
A selection of Central Networks pictures is available free of charge to the media by registering at www.newscast.co.uk and looking under Distribution