Are You POWER LINE Ready? Important Farm Safety Tips For Moving Equipment

Farm safety should be a priority year-round, but large equipment (folding planters, combines, augers and more) used during planting and harvest activities present additional challenges to your safety and well-being when power lines are involved.

It is always important to be aware of your surroundings. Know what your clearance is when passing underneath power lines with equipment in tow — seriously, this isn’t the time to eyeball it — and pay particularly close attention when backing up. If you don’t know the height of a power line in question, contact your local energy provider to clear up any uncertainty before proceeding.

What to do if you hit a power line

If your equipment does make contact with a power line, remain calm and follow these important safety instructions.

1. Stay Put & Call 911

DO NOT EXIT the cab of your vehicle! It might be tempting to get out and assess the situation, but you must remain in the cab and call 911. Explain what has happened and share your location with the emergency response dispatcher. You should also contact your local power cooperative to inform them of the situation (you can find the number of your provider here). Stay where you are until local authorities have declared the situation safe and provided you with clearance.

2. Don’t Climb — Jump!

If you must leave the cab due to fire or other safety concerns, keep your arms close to your body and jump as far away from the equipment as possible (always scan the entire area below for downed power lines, debris and flames before jumping). It is critical that you do not make simultaneous contact with the ground and your equipment in a circumstance such as this.

3. Hop Away To Safety

You probably haven’t hopped from point A to point B since grade school, but this is an additional safety instruction you must follow when your equipment has made contact with a power line. Hop with both feet together — this prevents one foot from entering a higher-voltage zone before the other and reduces your risk of electrocution — until you are at least 40 feet away from the equipment in question. If you haven’t done so already, call 911 and keep others from approaching the equipment.

Additional farm safety resources

Your local power cooperative has additional resources to keep you and your loved ones safe on the farm and at home. Visit www.yourcooppower.com to find safety tips and important contact information should an accident involving power lines and electricity ever occur.