UK Power Networks has added a unique six-digit number and a QR code to almost half a million electricity poles in the East of England as an extra safety precaution.
The new labels will direct people on how to report hazards or damaged overhead power lines and to access the latest safety advice.
The company, which distributes electricity across the East, has now labelled 490,000 wood poles assets across the region.
This will enable people to report the unique pole number and its location and also help them find electrical safety tips by scanning the QR code.
These include specific information available for landowners, farmers, anglers, construction, haulage and logistics companies as well as the emergency services.
This content will include written guides to staying and working safe around electricity as well as video material, while it will also provide the what3words location code for each pole to help the reporting of any emergency incidents and the 105 national power cut and emergency number.
Ros Forbes, a safety advisor at UK Power Networks, said: “Getting the best safety information and resources to the right people when they need it is key to keeping people safe.
“Using the vast number of poles we have is an innovative way of doing this and a first for both UK Power Networks and other Distribution Network Operators.
“We have worked with our asset management team to ensure the QR codes can direct people to the range of information we have about staying safe around high voltage electricity across a range of jobs or activities.
“This technology is a first for the industry and means we have a direct point of contact for the public at what is effectively half a million different locations so it’s really useful and gives us scope to reach out to even more of our customers.”
