This Farm Safety Week (22 – 26 July), farmers across the country are being urged to ‘look out, look up’, and stay safe around electrical equipment to avoid the risk of accidents.
Every year, National Grid Electricity Distribution – the electricity operator for the Midlands, South West and South Wales – is called to incidents in which farm vehicles have collided with overhead power lines. It is estimated that at least one agricultural accident involving overhead lines is reported every day in the UK.
One of these reports, from a farm in Lincolnshire, was called in when a combine harvester made contact with an overhead power line. It triggered a fire that destroyed the machine and an entire field of grain, resulting in damage estimated at £400,000. Fortunately, the driver of the vehicle, who inadvertently raised the grain shoot before setting off – setting it on a collision course with the overhead line – was able to escape unharmed.
As farm machinery continues to increase in size, the distance between equipment and nearby power lines is at risk of reducing, meaning that accidents could be more likely.
Paul Woodward, Safety Manager for National Grid Electricity Distribution, said:
“Accidents involving the electricity supply can have devastating consequences, so it’s really important that the farmers ‘look out’ and ‘look up’ – particularly when working with big or heavy machinery. We are committed to ensuring that farm workers have the knowledge and resources they need to get home safe every day, and will continue to work with farming communities across the country to reduce incidents involving our power lines.”
Farmers can find out more about National Grid’s safety advice and access additional resources at https://www.nationalgrid.co.uk/customers-and-community/health-and-safety/farming-safety.
