Public safety

Western Power developed three public safety projects in 2006/07, an Electricity Safety Case, a Public Safety Management Plan and a public safety awareness campaign.

Western Power’s Electricity Safety Case is a new management system that will ensure network safety risks are identified and adequate strategies are in place and operating to address these risks. We aim to have the Electricity Safety Case approved by EnergySafety and operating by June 2008.

The Public Safety Management Plan is a comprehensive framework for managing the public safety risk posed by Western Power’s business. The plan contributes to a best practice approach to the management of Western Power’s network (including planning, design, construction, maintenance and operation), and aims to reduce the risk of public injury, minimise damage to third party and network assets and to maintain compliance with relevant legislation.

We also launched a Public Safety Awareness Plan in late May 2007 to increase the public’s awareness and understanding of the risks from electricity and our network.

In addition, Western Power has a number of plans, systems and policies in place to manage public safety, including:

• Safety and health policy and management system:
  to manage safety and health issues in the business, including public safety
• Annual Asset Management Report: a management plan addressing the public safety risk for our network assets
• Bushfire Management and Implementation Plan:
  to lessen the risk and impact of bushfires
• Crisis Management Plan: to identify potential crises and control measures. The plan provides a framework that enables Western Power to respond rapidly and appropriately to crisis events and hazardous situation