PANAJI
The safety quotient for engineers and linesmen of the Electiricity Department working on faults in the grid will soar several notches as devices -- smart helmet and a wrist band -- designed to detect current flow will soon be in their armour.
Designed by the Goa Engineering College (GEC) a demonstration of these safety devises was done at the department’s headquarters by GEC principal Kripashankar Singh and Professor Priolkar in the presence of Power Minister, Ramkrishna Alias Sudin Dhavalikar and CEE Stephen Fernandes.
Dhavalikar said, the department’s officials are currently working out the modalities for mass producing these safety devices for use of the department while the GEC professors claimed these could also be used by industry.
When used, these devices will beep if there is current anywhere in a radius of 1.5 meters from the person wearing them, Professor Priolkar said.
This development comes at a time when the electricity department is under fire from Opposition politicians, civil society and others for taking safety of its field staff lightly after recent mishaps in which some linesmen and line-helpers have died.
