Play Safe, Stay Safe over the Summer Holidays
21 June 2024 16:27
With the summer holidays just about to start, NI Water is reminding parents and young people about the dangers of playing near treatment works, reservoirs, construction sites and tunnels.
NI Water is advising that there can be no complacency around water and is urging people to stay safe, beware of the dangers, behave responsibly and not take risks around watercourses this summer.
NI Water Education Officer Anna Killen said: “Reservoirs and work sites are not playgrounds and playing at or near them can have very serious consequences.
“For this reason, we are appealing to everyone to be aware that these are working sites with moving machinery, fast flowing water and deep excavations and chambers. It is important that everyone understands the dangers of reservoirs and work sites.”
NI Water has some simple steps on how to stay safe:
- Don’t climb on barriers and fences are there to protect you from serious injury and accidents when NI Water construction work is going on.
- Stay away from trenches and open manholes and chambers; they are dirty, deep and dangerous. They may also contain hazardous gases.
- Be careful near roads - never run out from behind parked vans or lorries as you could be knocked down and injured.
- Keep clear of equipment - You may see diggers, lorries, pipes and other equipment, but don’t be tempted - steer clear and don’t touch.
- Obey ‘Danger’ signs - reservoirs and treatment works can be very dangerous places, so stay well away and always obey the warning signs.
Anna concludes: “NI Water asks the local community to be vigilant against vandalism and anti-social behaviour at NI Water sites over the summer months. This damage can cause major delays in work schedules aimed at providing local communities with a vital service; valuable time and money is wasted repairing such damage.”
ENDS
Media enquiries to the NI Water Press Office via email: pressoffice@niwater.com