Farmers are being urged to stop and check for overhead power lines and underground cables before starting work this harvest.
As part of Farm Safety Week, which runs until Friday, National Grid is encouraging farmers across Nottinghamshire to take a moment to check their surroundings and stay alert when working near these cables.
The electricity network operator is sharing the reminder as part of a wider effort to reduce the number of incidents involving farm machinery and electricity infrastructure.
National Grid is urging farmers to take a moment to check their surroundings and stay alert when working near overhead power lines and underground electricity cables. Photo: National Grid
These incidents can result in serious injury or even death, and can cause significant disruption to electricity supplies — affecting homes, businesses and essential services.
With agricultural equipment getting bigger, and the space between machinery and power lines narrowing, taking a few moments to check before starting work could help avoid serious incidents.
Christopher Cleveland, head of safety at National Grid Electricity Distribution, said: “Farmers are highly skilled professionals who know their land and machinery better than anyone.
National Grid is urging farmers to take a moment to check their surroundings and stay alert when working near overhead power lines and underground electricity cables. Photo: National Grid
“But when it comes to electricity, familiarity doesn’t remove the risk.
“The biggest mistake we see is people not stopping to check before starting work.
“Many incidents happen during routine jobs because someone assumes they have enough clearance or believes nothing has changed since the last time they carried out the task.
“Before starting work, take a few moments to identify any nearby overhead power lines or underground cables, think through the job and make sure it can be carried out safely — check it, don’t chance it.”
National Grid is urging farmers to take a moment to check their surroundings and stay alert when working near overhead power lines and underground electricity cables. Photo: National Grid
Key steps farmers can take to ensure safety and avoid incidents include never raising equipment under or close to overhead power lines, never storing or moving materials under or close to overhead power lines, and knowing the maximum reach and height of any vehicle they are operating.
Farmers are also asked to ensure contractors, seasonal workers and others unfamiliar with their site understand where overhead lines are located and the risks they present, and check for underground electricity cables before carrying out digging or excavation work.
National Grid has warned that the area around a fallen line, including the soil, equipment and other objects, could be live and so urges caution
If contact is made with a power line, operators are advised to stay in the cab if it is safe to do so and, if possible, drive clear. If that is not possible, they should remain inside and call 105 immediately.
They should only leave the vehicle in an emergency, such as a fire, without touching the vehicle and the ground at the same time. If farmers have to leave the vehicle, it is important that they do so carefully with both feet together until they are clear of the danger zone.
Farmers are also encouraged to use What3Words to help engineers and emergency services locate incidents quickly and accurately.