Advice for camping and caravan site users, owners and operators

Every year making contact with overhead power lines causes electric shocks, severe burn injuries and sometimes death.

This can be avoided by campers and caravan users being aware of the dangers and pitching safely away from overhead power lines.

• Tent and awning poles made of metal, carbon fibre or similar materials will conduct electricity. Many other materials will allow electricity to flow along them when wet.
• At higher voltages electricity may jump short distances through the air - camping equipment does not have to touch a power line for anyone holding it to be affected.
• On unmanaged sites where warning and exclusion zone signs have not been erected, keep a distance of at least 6 metres horizontally between where you pitch and any overhead electric power lines.
• Look out for overhead power line warning notices and signs prohibiting camping in certain areas of the site – they have been put there to ensure your safety.
• Fly kites or model aircraft in areas away from power lines. If a kite is blown towards an overhead power line, let go of the string, keep clear and call Central Networks.

Overhead power lines are most commonly supported on wood poles normally at a minimum height of 5.2 metres, at voltages between 230 volts and 132,000 volts.

Power lines normally have yellow ‘Danger of Death’ notices fitted to the poles. To ensure your safety, all overhead lines should be treated as power lines and considered dangerous.

What to do in an emergency

• Do not attempt to move the camping equipment or person if either is still in contact with, or close to, the overhead power line.
• Electricity conductors may stay live after contact or may be re-energised automatically without warning.
• Prevent third parties from entering the incident area.
• Maintain a 5 metre clearance.
• Contact the Emergency Services through 999 and request an ambulance, if required.
• Contact Central Networks’ emergency service so that the line can be made safe.

Camping and caravan sites may have electrical substations on them. If balls or other toys go into the substations, get caught on pole transformers or on overhead power lines, do not try to recover them yourself. Contact Central Networks who will make it safe and return the items to their owner.

Tell the site manager or owner of any dangerous situation or near miss that you see.

A leaflet with further advice on site safety is available to download

Safe pitching - advice for camping and caravan site users (PDF 1.07 MB)

Precautions for site managers

As an owner or operator you have legal duties to ensure the safety of people using your site for caravanning and camping.

You can fulfil your duties by:

• Checking for any overhead power lines crossing your site or at the boundary. Central Networks can provide copies of plans on request.
• Preventing tents or caravans being pitched directly under overhead power lines and within at least 6 metres either side of the outermost conductor of the line.
• Making sure site users are aware of the dangers of flying kites or model aircraft near to overhead power lines, and attempting to recover balls or toys from substations or power lines. Providing copies of our ‘Safe pitching’ leaflet is one way to do this.
• Investigating any dangerous situation or near miss reported to you by a site user.

A leaflet with further advice on site safety is available to download

Safe sites - advice for caravan and campsite owners and operators (PDF 1.07 MB)