Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) is calling on the community, particularly heavy machinery operators, to take better care around powerlines following a 21% increase in incidents in 2022.

ESV’s Look Up and Live campaign aims to educate people on the dangers of vehicles such as tipper trucks, cranes and tractors that are operating too closer to powerlines, increasing the threat of electrical shock or fatal electrocution.

The company recorded a 21% increase in incidents from 2014 in 2021 to 260 in 2022. There have already been 48 incidents recorded in January and February this year. Of the 260 incidents in 2022, 165 involved overhead powerlines.

ESV chief executive Leanne Hughson says powerline-contact incidents were all avoidable, with most cases caused by distraction, inexperience, tight deadlines, laziness and sun glare.

“Unfortunately, distractions and the need to get things done quickly have unnecessarily cost Victorians their lives in recent years,” she says.

“It’s so easy to forget that the simple act of looking up and checking the location of powerlines before you start work, could save your life.”

For those operating heavy plant machinery that comes into contact with a powerline, stay inside the vehicle and call for help.

Those outside the vehicle should stay at least eight metres away, as they can still be shocked when approaching the vehicle.

For more information, including safety tips when operating around powerlines, visit this link.