…Restates commitment to safety of lives and property
By Foster Obi
In a renewed commitment to its high safety standards, Nigeria’s leading electricity distribution company, Ikeja Electric Plc (IE), has cautioned the public under its network against building structures and engaging in social and economic activities under power lines. The company said the specific clearance/distance which the public must maintain away from a 33/11KV lines is 5.5 meters (20ft) on both sides, while for 132KV lines the distance must be 15 meters (50ft) on both sides and 330KV lines must have a clearance of 25meters (60ft) on both sides.
IE’s Head of Quality, Safety, Health & Environment (QHSE), Engr. Jamiu Badmos, explained that carrying out social and economic activities under power lines exposes people’s lives to danger, leading to the risk of electrocution. According to him, fatality within the energy sector can be prevented if the public religiously adhere to precautions and avoid activities close to electrical installations.
“As a responsible service provider, we are aware of our obligation to ensure that every resident within our network is kept safe, especially bearing in mind the hazardous nature of electricity so we are using this medium to remind the public that electrical installations are harmful and must be avoided as much as is possible. Our appeal to customers to avoid activities under power lines must be taken seriously, especially as the integrity of old cables cannot always be guaranteed” he said.
He revealed that even with the huge resources IE has spent on enlightenment campaigns to sensitise the public on inherent dangers of life-threatening activities, some of the people have remained adamant.
Badmos further called for the intervention of the government and relevant stakeholders in stemming this ugly development by declaring activities under power line as illegal and moving people and markets away from the danger spots to save lives and properties. He added that customers can report cases of illegal structures under power lines, illegal connections and vandalism of equipment through Ikeja Electric customer care help lines numbers: 01-4483900, 0700-0-2255-43, 070-7000-250 or send mail via customercare@ikejaelectric.com.
A statement by Felix OFULUE, Head, Corporate Communications said that as a company that places high premium on safety in line with its Quality, Health, Safety and Environment (QHSE) policy, Ikeja Electric has consistently championed initiatives that entrenches the culture of safety to ensure no live of staff, contractors or customers is lost through electrocution.
“Recently, the company unveiled its Mission Slogan for 2019. The slogan, “Mission Zero-Take Ownership”, is a rallying cry for all stakeholders to take responsibility in ensuring that the network recording zero fatality in 2019. The Four pronged Safety approach unveiled by IE’s safety team, Mission ZERO, focuses on four main areas: Zero Injuries to customers, visitors, contractors and employees; Zero Tolerance of unsafe behavior and acts; Zero Compromise on Safety generally and Zero Impact on families and communities at large,” the statement declared
