Stay safe: Eskom calls for reporting of electrical hazards

Eskom is urging South Africans to promptly report dangerous electrical conditions as the country observes Electricity Safety Month. The power company warns that illegal connections, damaged infrastructure and other hazards continue to put communities, electricity workers and contractors at risk. Eskom's Senior Occupational Health and Safety Manager, Miranda Moahlodi, revealed that the utility has documented around 200 safety incidents related to electricity-related issues.

Moahlodi emphasized that the true number of incidents may be higher due to underreporting, especially in cases where communities protect illegal connections. Illegal connections and exposed wires can lead to electrocution, fires, network overloads and damage to critical infrastructure. The utility attributes many house fires in informal settlements and residential areas to poorly installed, overloaded or tampered electrical lines.

Eskom is asking residents to adopt its "See-Act-Immediately" protocol when they notice dangerous electrical infrastructure. This includes staying away from fallen or low-hanging wires, open electrical boxes, damaged meter boxes, vandalized transformers or unsafe connections running through trees, streets or rooftops. Residents are instructed not to touch or remove the hazards, but to warn others and report the danger.

Eskom also appealed to communities to assist its teams during the removal of illegal connections, stating that the removal is to prevent injuries and deaths. Moahlodi stressed that while the disconnections may be challenging for affected communities, Eskom's top priority is to prevent harm and save lives. The utility cautioned that vandalism, cable theft and illegal electricity operations can also cause extended outages, damage essential services and expose workers and the public to potentially fatal risks.