Fire in spotlight

Perth-based energy giant SSEN has joined forces with Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to help keep emergency service crews safe when working around live electrical equipment.

Safety teams from SSEN have been visiting the fire service’s training centre to promote their‘stay five, stay alive and call 105’message to the operations, control, training and employee development teams.

The slogan refers to the five metre distance first responders should stay away from potentially live electricity whilst out on jobs, including fires, damage to electrical equipment and road traffic collisions.

Kel Somers, operational safety advisor at SSEN, said:“Safety is one of our key priorities at SSEN, ensuring everyone goes home safe at the end of every working day and this also translates to our emergency responder colleagues working in challenging conditions on a daily basis.”

Staff from SSEN gave a presentation overviewing the electricity network, and the different types of equipment crews might come across.

The presentation also spoke about the importance of immediately calling the 105 emergency line to isolate power supplies to make the area safe for them to carry out their work.

Morven McDonald, operations control station commander for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, said: The safety of our firefighters is of paramount importance, so this presentation, which will help keep crews working in potentially hazardous environments safe, is most welcome.”