19 August 2009 16:41 Central Networks warns anglers to keep safe near overhead lines

The warning comes after an angler had to be taken to hospital suffering from electrical burns when their fishing equipment came into contact with an overhead line near Whitfield Road.

Anita Davis, Public Safety Manager at Central Networks, said: "At this time of year anglers are again taking to the region's riverbanks and it's vital that they're aware of the potential dangers posed by overhead power lines and take care around them."

Modern fishing poles are long enough to reach overhead power lines that can carry a potentially fatal voltage of up to 132,000 volts.

Carbon fibre rods and fishing poles are good conductors of electricity and as high voltage electricity can jump gaps, a rod doesn't have to come into direct contact with a line for anglers to be in danger.

To avoid accidental contact with overhead lines anglers should always:

• Check for overhead lines when parking and unloading their car, and when walking from their car to the waters edge;
• Carry rods and poles parallel to the ground, or if possible dismantle the pole and re-assemble at the waters edge;
• Select a fishing position that has an adequate safety distance to the overhead line - at least 30metres measured horizontally along the ground; and
• Fish from defined pegs on managed waters as well as looking out for, and complying with, any overhead line warning and angling prohibition signs.

Ends

Notes to editors:

• Central Networks brings power to 4.9 million customers across central England through 133,000km of underground and overhead cables 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:

Victoria Blake on 02476 181 304

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