THE NUMBER of electrical incidents on farms have reduced in the first half of 2020.

Electricity distributor SP Energy Networks (SPEN) has shared a 'thank you' to agricultural workers for their efforts – and urged them to keep up the good work.

There has been a 3% year-on-year fall in reported incidents such as tractors pulling down low voltage power lines and digging up underground cables.

During Farm Safety Week 2020 and throughout the year, SPEN shares power safety advice with the farm workers and agricultural communities it serves in central and southern Scotland, Merseyside, Cheshire, and North Wales.

Customer service director at SPEN, Guy Jefferson, said: “The safety of farmers and agricultural workers is incredibly important and, over the years, we’ve worked closely with farming communities to raise awareness of the dangers surrounding electricity on farms and farmlands. Crucially, we’ve ensured farmers know what to do in an emergency – they call the 105 emergency helpline

“The decrease in reported incidents shows our safety messaging and measures are working, but we can’t be complacent. As agricultural machinery gets bigger, it presents a higher risk of accidental contact with overhead powerlines," he stressed. "We’re taking the opportunity during Farm Safety Week to remind the agricultural community of the electrical dangers they face on a daily basis and how to avoid potential hazards, so we can continue to see a reduction in the number of reported incidents.”

 

SPEN shared the following safety advice:

 

• Have the national 105 emergency helpline close to hand – keep this saved in the contacts on your mobile phone;

• Look out! Look up! When working on farmland near overhead powerlines, be mindful of machinery and its size as it passes underneath, particularly if working with new machinery and bigger equipment;

• Plan ahead – carefully plan your routes, including access points and avoid stacking or storing items directly under overhead lines;

• Map it out – mark up a farm map with routes, operating voltages and approximate heights of overhead power lines running across your land, near boundaries and access routes to fields. Any underground cable routes in or around your land should also be recorded. You can always get in touch with SP Energy Networks if you’re unsure about the equipment on and nearby your land;

• Beware of fallen powerlines – in the event of a powerline falling on your land, we would advise taking extreme caution. Powerlines can remain live, even if they appear unaffected, so it’s essential to keep people and livestock away, then contact SP Energy Networks via our 24/7 emergency hotline number, 105.

• Tell others about potential hazards – ensure you inform staff, contractors and delivery drivers of potential electrical hazards on the farmland before any work begins.

If you are in any doubt about the dangers of electricity please visit: www.spenergynetworks.co.uk/pages/contact_us.aspx.