Dogs, wildlife and aggressive people are posing a major risk to Ergon crews and contractors across Queensland.
There were 289 reported incidents state-wide in the last 12 months, including 29 in the Capricornia region.
Ergon’s metering contracts manager Sarah Bradford says there is no excuse for abuse.
“One of the biggest hazards we are facing in the field has nothing to do with electricity at all, it’s actually our customers,” she said.
“The type of abuse and threatening behaviour being reported really does pose an additional risk to our crews that we don’t need, whether it’s meter readers, maintenance workers or in an emergency response situation.
“Our people just want to do a good job and get home safely to their friends and family, but abuse, threats and violence from customers can have lasting effects and potentially impact their return to work.”
There have been 81 reported incidents of threatening behaviour from customers in the last year and in some cases, crews have been advised not to attend a property without a police escort.
In Capricornia, there were three incidents of abuse or threats towards staff.
Aggressive animals are a constant threat to crews on the frontline of customer service.
Although there has been a significant reduction in incidents since Ergon introduced its safe entry policy in January 2019, in the last year there have been 16 dog-related incidents and 10 incidents related to wildlife in Capricornia.
“While you may not see your pet as a threat, experience tells us that any dog can pose a risk, regardless of size or temperament. We also know that electric fences and owners holding dogs by the lead, collar or in their arms do not provide adequate protection for our people.
“We’re asking customers to ensure their pets and livestock are locked up and completely separated from worksites to provide a safe environment for our crews and meter readers.
“If we cannot confirm safe access to your meter or other equipment, we will not risk entering your premises to do any work.
“We’re also concerned about the number of roaming animals, which are a potential threat to anyone going about their business in your community, so by ensuring they are secured you are keeping everyone safe,” Ms Bradford said.
To further safeguard its teams in the field, Ergon has introduced an Entry Hazards App, which arms crews with critical information about potential risks before they enter a property, including dogs, hostile occupants, asbestos and fire ants.
