Frontline electricity workers across Queensland are confronting a surge in dangerous incidents that have nothing to do with high-voltage cables or stormy weather. The real hazard, alarmingly, is coming from the very communities they serve.
A Shocking Toll on Frontline Crews
Data released by power provider Energex has revealed that its workers and contractors endured almost 300 threats and attacks throughout Queensland in the last 12 months. A detailed breakdown shows that 138 of these incidents occurred in South East Queensland alone, highlighting a concentrated problem in the state's most populous region.
Sarah Bradford, Energex's metering contracts manager, stated plainly that the biggest field hazard isn't electrical. "It's actually our customers," she said. The abuse and threatening behaviour create an unnecessary additional risk for crews simply trying to do their jobs.
Dogs and Aggression: The Leading Dangers
The statistics paint a clear picture of the primary dangers. The city of Brisbane recorded the highest number of incidents, including:
- 49 dog-related near-misses or bites
- 36 threats from people
- 19 incidents involving other animals
Other regions like the Gold Coast and Scenic Rim reported similar issues, with eight dog-related incidents and seven threats from people. In total, crews reported 148 dog-related incidents and 60 involving other animals statewide in the past year.
Confronting photos released by Energex show the physical impact, with workers suffering bites to ears and legs, torn uniforms, and arm injuries sustained while trying to protect themselves.
Mental Scars and Police Escorts
The consequences of these attacks extend far beyond physical wounds. Bradford explained that the mental and physical toll on workers is significant, affecting their home life and their willingness to return to work.
The situation has become so severe in some cases that 81 direct threats from customers required a police escort before workers could safely enter a property. Even Energex's 24/7 contact centre staff, who support customers during major weather emergencies, have faced verbal abuse and threats over the phone.
How to Secure Your Property for Worker Safety
In response to the ongoing risk, Energex is urging pet owners and residents to take simple steps to ensure worker safety. Bradford emphasised that "any dog can pose a risk, regardless of size or temperament."
The company's safe entry policy, introduced in 2019, requires that animals be properly secured. Merely holding a dog on a lead or having an electric fence is not considered adequate restraint.
To ensure safe access, Energex advises:
- Dogs must be behind a locked or closed fence, gate, or door.
- Roaming dogs must be secured.
- If safe access cannot be confirmed, workers will not enter the premises.
To further protect its teams, Energex recently launched an Entry Hazards App that alerts crews to potential risks like dogs, hostile occupants, and other dangers before they enter a property.
Bradford expressed gratitude to the majority of considerate customers and made a simple plea: "Our people just want to do a good job and get home safely to their friends and family. Your support and small actions to keep our people safe mean a lot."
