Mount Isa residents are being reminded to keep their dogs locked up, after an Ergon Energy meter reader was attacked on Monday afternoon.
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The meter reader was filling in a card outside a property on Monday April 20, when a pit bull came up behind him and bit him on the leg.
The meter reader went to hospital to have the wound checked and cleaned; and Ergon Energy are appealing to dog owners to do their bit to keep the community safe.
Ergon Energy's General Manager Customer & Market Operations, Cloe Kernick said the incident was a painful reminder of what happens when gates are left open or dogs are able to jump the fence.
"Dog owners need to take responsibility for their pets for the safety of everyone walking in their neighbourhood, including meter readers doing their rounds," Ms Kernick said.
"Dog attacks are traumatic and can have lasting effects on the physical and mental health of the victims and their families - some people are literally scarred for life.
"Every day, meter readers go door-to-door on foot as part of their job so the risk is always front of mind for them and we hope that dog owners understand the part they play in keeping our people safe."
In January 2019, Ergon Energy introduced a safe entry policy that prevents crews and meter readers from entering yards where there is a record of dogs on site, but it's not clear that they're securely restrained or separated from the work area.
Since then there has been a 40pc reduction in the number of injuries.
"While we've seen a vast improvement in the last two years, meter readers are still being bitten by dogs and we need the community's help to stop these horrific incidents," Ms Kernick said.
"We've introduced a free SMS notification service for dog owners, who can register online to receive a text the day before their scheduled meter read.
"This gives them time to prepare for the meter reader's visit to ensure safe entry and avoid a skipped read."
Using Ergon's Customer Self Service portal, customers can also update their dog details, so the meter reader is aware of exactly how many dogs are meant to be on site.
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Samantha Campbell
Samantha Campbell (nee Walton) has worked for regional and rural publications across New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory. She is currently writing for the North Queensland Register based in North West Queensland. Email: samantha.campbell@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Samantha Campbell (nee Walton) has worked for regional and rural publications across New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory. She is currently writing for the North Queensland Register based in North West Queensland. Email: samantha.campbell@austcommunitymedia.com.au
