How Farmers Can Stay Safe During Planting Season
Long hours and fatigue are a constant battle for farmers during planting season. If you farm, remember to take care of yourself by getting as much rest as possible and allowing yourself breaks to clear your head.
Be especially aware of electrical hazards around the farm. Be cautious and think twice before acting around electricity and electrical equipment.
If you are burning ditches or fields around power lines, please be aware of keeping those fires away from the utility poles. Burning utility poles can not only cause issues for you at your farm ground, but could cause outages that affect several members around the area.
SafeElectricity.org offers farmers the following reminders this spring planting season:
- If your machinery or vehicles comes in contact with a power line, do not get out. Once contact has been made with a live line (even when your tractor or truck makes contact), you are now a “pathway to ground” and you could get electrocuted if you step out. Instead, stay where you are and call 9-1-1 to dispatch the appropriate utility to de-energize the power.
- If your machinery or vehicle catches fire, you must carefully hop out of the vehicle and land on both feet at the same time. It is very important to land with only your feet and both of them meeting the ground simultaneously. Once you do, hop with both feet together, both feet meeting the ground at the same time, until you are as far away from the machinery as possible. If a medical condition prohibits you from hopping, keep your feet together and shuffle them without bringing them off the ground, until you get as far away from the machinery as you can.
- If you come across an accident or incident near a downed power line, alert individuals (from a distance) to stay in the tractor or vehicle as long as there is no imminent danger. Do not approach the scene.
- When using machinery with long extensions or tall antennas and when using ladders, look up first to avoid contact with overhead power lines.
- Be sure to stay away from a sagging or downed power line.
- Even if there is no contact to an electric line, an electrical current can jump or arc so keep equipment at least ten feet away from surrounding power lines at all times.
- Remember, non-metallic materials (such as tree limbs, ropes and hay) can conduct electricity, depending on dampness and dust or dirt accumulation.
- Visually inspect overhead lines, which may not meet height codes due to age or pole damage. If a wire is hanging low or is on the ground, consider it energized and stay at least fifty feet away. Also, call 9-1-1 to have the operator dispatch the correct utility.
- Every day, map out where your equipment will be moving to ensure it will be able to clear all surrounding overhead power lines.
- When working in the vicinity of power lines, always use a spotter who has a broad vantage point.
- Train anyone working with or for you (including seasonal employees) to be aware of power line locations and teach them proper clearance distance. Also design and implement a safety training program that includes a review of electrical hazards and how to safely deal with power lines.
- According to American Family Insurance, “know your PTO.” To stay safe when working with a power take off (PTO), always disengage the PTO, turn off the engine and remove keys before getting off the tractor. Also, never step across a rotating power shaft.
- If kids are helping around the farm, be sure to teach them how to do tasks safely and what to do in case of an emergency around electric lines.
For more information on electrical safety, visit www.safeelectricity.org and www.waynewhitecoop.com