Power lines and other equipment are necessary to deliver electricity to hardworking farmers and ranchers, but those same power lines can also be deadly if not treated with respect.

Harvest means long hours, increased stress and tight schedules. Burke-Divide Electric Cooperative urges you to watch for electrical hazards around the farm or ranch, especially during harvest season.

BE AWARE

  • Look over work areas carefully for overhead power lines, utility poles, guy wires, padmounted transformers and other electrical facilities.
  • Make sure you, your family and employees know the location of electrical facilities and use routes to avoid them when moving equipment. Do this every year, as equipment sizes and soil conditions may change.
  • Always keep equipment at least 10 feet away from power lines on all sides. Sprayers can often reach as high as 12 feet in the air.
  • Use care when raising augers or the bed of a grain truck. It can be diff icult to estimate distance, and a power line may be closer than it looks.
  • Always lower equipment extensions, portable augers or elevators to their lowest possible level before moving or transporting them. Encourage folding and unfolding to be done well into the field, not at the field’s edge, which could have power lines running next to it.

USE A SPOTTER

  • Avoid moving large equipment alone. Have someonech as you move equipment to ensure you are clear of power lines. Don’t rely on autosteer around power lines and poles. 

REALIZE THINGS CHANGE

  • If you have purchased new equipment, be aware of antennas or other attachments that may pose new hazards. A newer, bigger piece of equipment may no longer clear a line. In addition, shifting soil may also affect whether or not machinery avoids power lines f rom year-to-year.
  • Wind, uneven ground, shifting weight or other conditions can cause you to lose control of equipment and make contact with power lines.
  • Power lines also may sag over the years. If power lines on your property are sagging, contact your electric cooperative to repair the lines. Never try to move a power line on your own.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU HIT A POWER LINE

  • If your equipment makes contact with an energized power line, contact 9-1-1 immediately and remain inside the vehicle until the power line is de-energized. In case of smoke or f ire, exit the cab by making a solid jump out of the cab (without touching it), and hop away to safety.