Farmers given heads-up on safety near power lines

Farmers are being given a crucial safety warning ahead of what is one of the busiest times of year in the agricultural calendar.
SSEN has produced a list of advice for farmers ahead of one of the busiest times of their year.SSEN has produced a list of advice for farmers ahead of one of the busiest times of their year.
SSEN has produced a list of advice for farmers ahead of one of the busiest times of their year.

Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Distribution is giving them a heads-up to always check for overhead power lines with this year’s ‘Look out, look up, look after yourself’ safety drive.

In the last 12 months, SSEN has seen a further reduction in the number of non-injury events in farms and fields across its network in the north of Scotland, with 853 in 2021, compared to 865 in 2020 and 910 in 2019.

While these figures are trending in the right direction, SSEN is keen to reach as many farmers and agricultural contractors as possible and bring this number down even further.

To ensure its farm safety campaign was hitting the right note with its target audience, SSEN has been engaging with the farming community directly, and their feedback has influenced this year’s safety drive which includes radio, trade press, digital and social media advertising.

SSEN has produced advice to help farmers stay safe when working near the electricity network which includes: Before heading out on the farm, always check for power lines above – ‘Look out, look up, look after yourself’.

If your farm machinery hits a power line: stay in the cab if safe, call 105 and wait for help; never touch an overhead line and don’t assume it’s dead – always assume it is live unless, or until, the owner of the line has confirmed that it is dead.

When machinery is in contact with an overhead line, anyone who touches both the machinery and the ground can be electrocuted. Stay in the machinery and lower raised parts in contact with the line or drive the machinery out of the line if you can.

Peter Vujanic, head of safety, said: “We’re proud to describe this campaign as ‘informed by farmers, for farmers’, as our work with the agricultural community throughout the year has really helped to shape the way our campaign is being rolled out.

“The feedback we’ve received is that tiredness, loss of concentration and pressure to complete the job are still the main reasons our lines are struck – that’s why we’re urging anyone working on the farm this summer to not only look out and look up, but to also, ‘look after yourself’.”

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