Partnership puts safety at the centre of electrical training
A PARTNERSHIP has been announced between firefighters and a power company to educate Halton residents on the dangers posed by electricity.
Cheshire Fire And Rescue Service has joined forces with SP Energy Networks.
The two organisations will be working together at the new safety and life skills education centre in Lymm called Safety Central.
Next month, the power company will begin installation work on the power safety “scenario” within the centre’s indoor village.
It will include an overhead power line display, showing the dangers of low or fallen electric power lines, as well as a life-size electricity substation that will highlight the dangers of entering a substation and the risks presented to the public when thieves attack industrial electrical equipment.
Deputy chief fire officer Mark Cashin said: “We’re aiming for Safety Central to be the best facility of its kind in the UK and the support of organisations like SP Energy Networks is vital in giving our educational scenarios relevance and credibility.
“We’re hugely grateful to SP Energy Networks for providing equipment, resource and time to bring our centre to life, as well as helping us get our volunteer ranger programme up and running during our exciting first year of operation.
“This is a ground-breaking partnership and we look forward to working together for years to come to help keep our communities safer.”
SP Energy Networks owns and operates the electricity transmission and distribution network throughout Cheshire, Merseyside and North Wales.
The company’s director Stephen Stewart said: “We are delighted to be working with Cheshire Fire And Rescue Service as it embarks on this very exciting project.
“Safety Central will provide a fantastic opportunity for SP Energy Networks to engage with young and vulnerable people in the region and teach them about the risks around electricity.
“In the last year, there were 212 safety incidents in our Cheshire and Wirral ● Shone, Deputy Chief Fire Officer Mark Cashin, director of SP Energy Networks Stewart, head health and safety
SP Energy Networks Wilma Kelly districts and we believe with better education and awareness we can reduce future incidents and ensure our communities are safer.
“We’re really looking forward to working with all the volunteer rangers and of course, the grand opening of the new safety centre in September.”
Safety Central will open in September and more than 3,300 young people are already booked to visit.
The free education programmes have been designed to help those most at risk recognise dangers and gain the skills and knowledge to stay safe, well and independent.