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SPEN and DIY SOS star help keep DIY enthusiasts safe

01/09/2020

TV electrician helps us to share our safety advice.

Britain’s most beloved TV electrician Billy Byrne is helping the nation stay safe with a series of videos sharing his top tips for people turning to DIY at home and in the garden.

The 65-year-old, famous for his role on BBC television show DIY SOS, is working with us to promote good practice when it comes to working near electricity.

The number of safety incidents involving electricity around homes and gardens has risen steeply since last year, with more people digging out the toolbox or paintbrush during lockdown.

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Figures show a surge in DIY garden projects led to a 24% increase in reported incidents across the UK – rising from 126 incidents from January to June 2019 to 161 incidents in the same period this year. This spike in domestic incidents involved activities such as digging up trees, cutting high hedges, hammering in fences and painting over electricity service positions.

Billy, who has witnessed his fair share of electrical disasters over the years, has worked with us to develop straight talking advice to ensure people stay safe while working in the garden, in the home and near overhead power lines, which people can often forget about when they take on DIY.

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Billy, who has starred on DIY SOS since 1999, said: “Most of us have spent more time at home over the last six months than we have in the last six years. For me, it was a chance to tackle the odd jobs I’ve been putting off. But before you get cracking, you need to stop and think about the risks.

“The guys at SP Energy Networks really are a go-to source for easy to understand advice that anyone thinking of undertaking DIY should check out before they get started. It’s better to be safe than sorry.”

Billy’s top tips are:

Our safety campaign is designed to get people thinking about the dangers of electricity before attempting DIY.  

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Guy Jefferson, Customer Service Director at SP Energy Networks, said: “Since the start of the year, there has been a sharp rise in safety incidents as people do more DIY around their homes and gardens where there are lots of hidden electrical hazards.

“It’s important to consider these risks and make sure you follow the advice Billy outlines in the videos to ensure you can carry out projects as safely as possible. We want to help people plan ahead so we’ve put together some top tips to avoid some of the mishaps Billy has witnessed over the years.”

SP Energy Networks provides free safety advice on its website for those who are planning to do work near powerlines and underground cables. For further information please visit: