The Guyana Power and Light Inc. is warning contractors, truck operators and members of the public to exercise greater caution when working near its infrastructure.

The company says at least two people have died this year after coming into contact with its network, while unsafe activity around power lines continues to cause service disruptions.

GPL says human activity around its network is increasingly creating dangerous situations, from trucks and construction equipment coming into close proximity with high-voltage lines, to vehicles damaging utility infrastructure.

And officials say, in some cases, simply getting too close can be fatal.

“When you have a high-voltage line, you don’t have to touch it. You have to go within the magnetic field of that line, and it will trip that line, and it can also injure the operator,” Management Committee Team Lead, Kesh Nandlall said.

GPL says construction activity and reckless drivers operating heavy-duty vehicles are among the recurring concerns.

Officials have seen truck-mounted booms, containers and cement – equipment operating dangerously close to power lines.

“We are working in a very dangerous situation where people have little regard for what is happening above them. There are scenes all over the place with containers hanging over power lines and various things. It’s all over the internet and Facebook ,Drunk drivers, trucks pulling down stuff. Cement pumping trucks precariously hanging over our network in close proximity. These things cause serious disruptions to service,” GPL’s Divisional Director, Gary Hall added.

GPL says it has been working with the Ministry of Labour, contractors and telecommunications companies to improve safety practices.

The company is also urging contractors, drivers and members of the public to seek guidance before undertaking work near power lines.