Negative Environmental and Social Impacts

Electricity, though a good master and a bad servant, is a hazard and safety precautions must be adhered to and properly used.

• 
  Proper public education to the people on safe use of electricity
  
• 
  Proper wiring in the customers’ premises by qualified technicians
  
• 
  Use of danger/hatari signs on the poles
  

Engineer

• 
  No of Public safety awareness sessions held
  
• 
  No of accidents recorded
  
• 
  No of deaths
  
• 
  Medical Records
  
• 
  Presence of Hazard communication signs
  
• 
  Availability of wiring certificate
  

During construction many people will be engaged in working. Such people are exposed to occupational risks like falling from heights, Accidents etc.

• 
  The contractor must observe all the safety precautions to ensure workers work safely
  
• 
  Safety awareness creation to the workers
  
• 
  Use of personal protective equipment like gloves, helmet, climbing shoes, harnesses etc.
  

• 
  Staff Training and regular equipment service and testing
  
• 
  Only trained & certified workers to install, maintain or repair electrical equipment;
  
• 
  Use of signs, barriers and education/ public outreach to prevent public contact with potentially dangerous equipment;
  
• 
  Community policing to be encouraged to reduce vandalism of transformers and distribution cables
  
• 
  Follow safe work procedures
  
• 
  Maintain a fully stocked and accessible first aid kit
  

• 
  Observe OSHA 2007 regulations
  

• 
  Workers in PPE
  
• 
  Records of safety awareness sessions held with workers
  
• 
  Fully stacked First Aid Kit
  
• 
  Competency records
  
• 
  Tool box talk records
  

Operation & decommissioning

At project implementation many new workers will be involved and new interactions between people are likely to take place. These interactions are likely to pose risks to the social fabric of the society. Such risks include public health related issues such as (HIV/AIDS, communicable and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

• 
  Public awareness of the public health issues identified.
  
• 
  Provision of condoms
  
• 
  Distribution of HIV & AIDS awareness materials in collaboration NACC
  

• 
  Availability of Condoms
  
• 
  No of public health awareness sessions with workers
  

The project will involve short service lines within the 600m radius mainly along the road reserve. No tall growing trees will be allowed below the lines or along the way leave trace.

Grass and short vegetation will be cleared to pave way for erection of poles.

• 
  KPLC to plant trees as a way of compensation for the cleared ones
  
• 
  Clear limited areas only where the pole will be erected
  
• 
  Select alternative alignments to avoid sensitive natural features
  

• 
  No of trees planted
  

Majority of these service lines are constructed using wooden poles. This would impact on the environment as close to a million poles will be needed according to the preliminary estimates.

• 
  Plant more trees to compensate for the poles used
  

• 
  Ensure accurate budgeting to ensure only necessary material is ordered
  
• 
  Proper storage to ensure minimal loss
  
• 
  Supply seedlings to farmers to increase forest cover
  

• 
  No concrete poles used
  
• 
  No of trees planted
  

Exhaust emissions are likely to be generated by the vehicles used to ferry materials during construction. These exhaust emissions can impact on the quality of air.

• 
  Drivers shall not leave vehicles idling so that exhaust emissions are lowered.
  
• 
  Maintain all machinery and equipment in good working order to ensure minimum emissions are produced.
  

• 
  Project engineer
  

• 
  No vehicle idling onsite
  
• 
  Vehicle maintenance Records
  

Little if any solid waste will be generated which includes conductor and tree cuttings.

• 
  All left over conductor cuttings to be disposed appropriately or be returned to the store for proper disposal
  
• 
  Proper budgeting of materials to reduce wastage
  
• 
  practice 3 Rs of waste management: reduce, reuse, recycle of materials
  
• 
  Properly Manage storage, transfer, and disposal of transformer oils according to industry standards
  

Records of material return to store if any

• 
  Proper servicing of vehicles
  
• 
  Not necessary for power lines of such low voltage. However contractor should ensure minimal noise generation during construction and decommissioning phases
  
• 
  Maintain all work equipment at optimal operating condition
  
• 
  Monitor noise levels at sensitive receptors (residential areas, schools, hospitals)
  
• 
  Work through community liaison officers to agree on working hours and to respond promptly to complaints.
  

• 
  No burning of vegetation along the distribution lines rights-of-way
  
• 
  Timely maintenance of the right of way
  
• 
  Time maintenance of transformers
  

• 
  Need to design appropriate protection devices against accidental discharge of transformer oil substances.
  
• 
  Frequent inspection and maintenance of the transformers should be done to minimize spilling.
  
• 
  All waste oils from maintenance of transformers and other associated equipment should be segregated and disposed properly by a reputable/registered waste handler in accordance with the waste disposal plan.