Farmers and hauliers are being urged not to forget safety when it comes to loading and unloading on farms.
UK Power Networks has been talking to landowners and site managers asking them to warn contractors and workers about the overhead cables on their land. The electricity distributor’s safety team has renewed their warning following the death of a skip driver in the eastern region, when part of the vehicle was raised and came into contact with overhead lines.
Last year farming and road haulage contributed to 30% of all overhead line incidents across the East and South East, and nationally two people are killed every year.
To spread the safety message, advisors from UK Power Networks attend dozens of events and groups across the East and South East and have a busy schedule planned for this year.
Safety advisor Ros Forbes said: “It’s really important that landowners or site managers remember to brief all staff, and anyone visiting with equipment that operates at height, about any overhead power lines to avoid. These can carry up to 132,000 volts so any contact with them could be life-threatening.
“Our advice if driving or using agricultural machinery, is always to be vigilant, plan ahead and to look up and around to see what electrical equipment is near you. Another thing to be careful of, is changing the landscape or land use, for example by building up the land or adding hardstanding or access routes below existing power lines.”
Thousands of bright yellow stickers are handed out each year by the power company, to be stuck inside farm vehicle cabs reminding drivers to work safely, and what to do in an emergency.
