SP ENERGY NETWORKS BLOWS THE WHISTLE ON ELECTRICAL INCIDENTS WITH WORLD CUP-INSPIRED SAFETY CAMPAIGN

  Posted by: electime      23rd June 2026

With more than 100 electrical incidents recorded on UK construction and demolition sites in the past year* and the World Cup well underway, SP Energy Networks is kicking off a football-inspired safety campaign for electricians.

Using one of football’s most talked-about topics – the offside rule – as its starting point, the campaign tests trade workers’ knowledge and understanding of the potential electrical dangers on working sites and how to avoid these.

SP Energy Networks’ ‘On-Site Rules’ campaign – designed to stop preventable ‘strikes’ on underground electricity cables and overhead power lines while operating machinery and using equipment – came about after research** found that three-quarters of construction site workers are football fans.

While for some fans the call about whether a player is offside or not might feel like a life and death decision, not knowing the rules on a working site really can have far higher stakes than a disputed decision on match day.

The campaign’s light-hearted content – which will be shared via audio ads on Spotify, DAX and Acast and SP Energy Networks’ social media channels – is designed to kick-off conversations about safe working practices, with a football-style commentator calling out the rules for staying safe on site.

Sean Griffiths, Health and Safety Director at SP Energy Networks, said: “With the World Cup dominating the news and being the hottest topic across the country, we think it’s the perfect opportunity to blow the whistle on the potential dangers when working around electricity infrastructure. 

“Everyone claims they know the offside rule, but we want to see if they know the On-Site Rules! Taking steps to know what’s underground before you dig, looking out and looking up for overhead lines and planning work in advance really can save lives.  Through our campaign, we’re showing the red card to unnecessary electrical incidents and promoting positive safety practices across the UK.”

For further safety advice, go to https://www.spenergynetworks.co.uk/pages/safety.aspx