Qld students encouraged to be Safety Heroes for Electricity Safety Week

Primary school students across Queensland will transform into Safety Heroes next week as part of Electricity Safety Week (5-11 September).

Minister for Energy Mark Bailey today launched Energy Queensland’s Safety Heroes program at Salisbury State School.

“This year is the first time the school-based Safety Heroes program is being offered to every school in Queensland,” Mr Bailey said.

“The Safety Heroes program is a way for us to highlight the importance of safety around electricity to students in a fun and engaging way.

“Whether it is using a power point, coming across a fallen powerline, to storm and cyclone preparedness, kids need to know how to be safe around electricity.

“Energy Queensland, is making sure all children from Coolangatta to the Cape have the opportunity to learn valuable lessons about electrical safety.”

Treasurer Curtis Pitt did the regional launch of the Safety Heroes program at Isabella State School in Cairns.

“Ergon Energy launched Safety Heroes in regional Queensland last year and in just 12 months it had delivered important electrical safety information to more than 70,000 primary school students,” he said.

“The newly merged Enegy Queensland now has the combined efforts of Ergon Energy and Energex, meaning even more students will be able to access the safety program .

“The program was launched as a centrepiece to last year’s Electrical Safety Week and it has now become part of the science curriculum for thousands of year 6 students across regional Queensland.

“Every Queensland primary school is now able to access the Safety Heroes program from today thanks to Energy Queensland.

“Safety is inherent in everything Ergon Energy and Energex employees do because of the industry they work in – that important safety message is being passed onto Queensland kids to ensure they understand the importance of electrical safety too.”

The Safety Heroes initiative launches in state and independent primary schools across Queensland next week and takes a curriculum-based education program teaching children the basics of electrical safety into the classroom.

ENDS

Media contact:  Amy Hunter  0423 651 484       

BACKGROUND

The Safety Heroes program encourages students to take responsibility for being safe around electricity through a safety ‘hero’ persona – a popular concept with primary school aged children.

The program teaches children about how electricity works, home electrical safety, storm and cyclone preparedness, fallen powerlines and safety around overhead powerlines.

Key safety messages taught to primary school children in all participating schools will include:

• Beware of fallen powerlines.  Stay safe and keep at least 8 metres away from fallen powerlines.
• Don’t play near powerlines.  Never play on electrical equipment or in trees near powerlines.
• Always keep away from overhead powerlines.
• Water and electricity don’t mix. Keep electrical appliances away from water.
• Use electrical appliances safety.  Never put metal objects in a toaster or power point.
• Know what to do and who to contact in an electrical emergency.  Tell an adult.