Around five people are killed every year in accidents involving overhead power lines during agricultural work. You can cut down on the likelihood with some basic precautions
Work out what your safe working clearances are for overhead lines. Select your machinery and equipment carefully so it doesn't come into contact with them. Potentially dangerous jobs are:
- ploughing
- using irrigation pipes and ladders
- using combine harvesters
- loading or unloading vehicles
- using tipper wagons or trailers in fields
- stacking materials
Plan your work so it avoids high-risk areas. Use entrances and routes to fields that avoid going beneath power lines and don't stack anything directly under or near them.
Find and note the routes and operating voltages of overhead power lines running across your land or near its boundaries. Your local electricity company will supply this information on request. Mark these routes and voltages on your farm map, and use it as reference when planning cropping and other work, instructing machine operators and contractors, or buying new equipment. Include your local electricity company’s emergency phone number on your map and in your list of telephone contacts.
You can protect others by looking out for children and visitors on your land, and giving this information to your agricultural contractors:
- make sure everyone working on your land is aware of the overhead lines
- train staff to be aware of the risks associated with power lines
- show them the HSE Shock Horror video and booklets
- make sure they know what to do if there’s an accident
- make sure contractors are aware of the location and voltages of power lines on your land
Things to remember
- most overhead electricity wires are not insulated
- it can be fatal to touch electricity wires, or people or things touching the wires, even at the lowest voltages
- electricity can jump gaps
- trees, string, ropes, suspension lines and water can conduct electricity
- rubber boots won't protect you
- never assume electrical equipment is dead, even if wires have fallen or broken
- power can be switched back on at any time, without warning
- don't assume that wires on wood poles are telephone wires.
- a jet of water or liquid slurry can cause a discharge of electricity, with a high risk of fatal or severe injury
Measure your machinery
The increases in size of farm machinery means that it's important to consider the size of both your own machinery and that used by your contractors on your land:
- find out the maximum height and vertical reach of all machinery used on your land
- consider overhead power lines when buying machinery
- the minimum height of overhead lines should be 5.2 metres (17 feet), but live equipment on poles may be as low as 4.3 metres (14 feet)
Contact your electricity company
Talk to your local electricity company or look on their website. They’ll provide free information and advice about the precautions and safe working practices to be followed near overhead power lines.
What to do in an emergency
If an overhead line touches any part of your agricultural machinery while you're inside:
- always assume the lines are live, even if they're not sparking
- wires may re-energise at any time without warning (this can happen automatically after a few seconds or remotely after several hours if the electricity company isn't aware of the situation)
- always keep a mobile phone with you and use it to contact emergency services
- try to drive clear
- stay inside your vehicle until emergency services arrive
- warn others to stay well clear
If this isn’t possible or the vehicle catches fire:
- jump well clear – don't climb down
- never touch the vehicle once you’re on the ground
- run well clear with leaping strides
- stay clear
Call the network operator: 0800 587 3243
Download our Safety in Farming leaflet as PDF. <<download~
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