FeaturesHonors & Awards Ag Announcements

Calendar Ag News Elsewhere  (fresh daily from the Web)

Features

Farmers urged to watch for electrical hazards during harvest season   Send a link to a friend

[OCT. 10, 2003]  URBANA -- The rush to harvest can reap grim results: electrocution. Missing important safety steps results in many farm workers being killed and hundreds injured each year when farm equipment makes contact with overhead power lines. Safe Electricity, the statewide safety awareness program of the Illinois Electric Council, urges farm workers to review farm activities and work practices that take place around power lines and take steps to prevent tragic accidents.

"Take note when moving equipment like portable grain augers, oversized wagons and large combines. Everyone who works on the farm should know the location of power lines and keep farm equipment at least 10 feet away from them," says Molly Hall, director of Safe Electricity. "The minimum 10-foot distance is a 360-degree rule below, to the side and above lines. Ensuring proper clearance can save lives."

"Equipment contacting overhead power lines is the leading cause of farm electrocution accidents in the Midwest," said Bob Aherin, University of Illinois agricultural safety specialist. "Moving portable grain augers poses the greatest risk because those who are on the ground moving the equipment would provide a direct path for electricity if there's a contact with overhead wires.

"Always lower grain augers before moving them, even if it's only a few feet. Variables like wind, uneven ground, shifting weight or other conditions can combine to create an unexpected result," Aherin said. "Use extreme caution when raising the bed of a grain truck. It can be difficult to estimate distance, and sometimes a power line is closer than it looks. A spotter or someone with a broader view can help."

Farm workers also are advised not to use metal poles when breaking up bridged grain inside and around bins and to use qualified electricians for work on drying equipment and other farm electrical systems.

Some other equipment safety considerations:

* Always lower portable augers or elevators to their lowest possible level -- under 14 feet -- before moving or transporting. Be careful when raising them.

* When moving large equipment or high loads near a power line, always use a spotter or someone to help make certain that contact is not made with a line.

* Be aware of increased height when loading and transporting larger modern tractors with higher antennas.

* Never attempt to raise or move a power line to clear a path!

[to top of second column in this article]

"It's also important for operators of farm equipment or vehicles to know what to do if the vehicle comes in contact with a power line," Hall says. "It's almost always best to stay in the cab and call for help. Warn others who may be nearby to stay away, and wait until the electric utility arrives to make sure power to the line is cut off."

"If the power line is energized and you step outside, your body becomes the path and electrocution is the result," Aherin said. "Even if a power line has landed on the ground, the potential for the area nearby to be energized still exists. Stay inside the vehicle unless there's fire or imminent risk of fire."

In that case, the proper action is to jump, not step, with both feet hitting the ground at the same time. Do not allow any part of your body to touch the equipment and the ground at the same time. Continue to shuffle or hop to safety, keeping both feet together as you leave the area.

Once you get away from the equipment, never attempt to get back on or even touch the equipment. Many electrocutions occur when the operator dismounts and, realizing nothing has happened, tries to get back on the equipment.

As in any outdoor work, be careful not to raise any equipment such as ladders, poles or rods into power lines. Remember, nonmetallic materials such as lumber, tree limbs, tires, ropes and hay will conduct electricity depending on dampness and dust and dirt contamination.

The overhead electric wires aren't the only electrical contact that can result in a serious incident. Pole guy wires are grounded to the neutral; but, when one of the guy wires is broken, it can cause an electric current disruption. This can make those neutral wires anything but harmless. If you hit a guy wire and break it, call the utility to fix it. Don't do it yourself. When dealing with electrical poles and wires, always call the electric utility.

For more information on farm and home electrical safety, visit www.SafeElectricity.org. Spanish versions of farm electric safety information are also available there.

Safe Electricity is a statewide electrical safety public awareness program. The program was created by a coalition of nearly three dozen organizations, including the University of Illinois, rural electric cooperatives and investor-owned electric utilities from throughout the state. All are members of the Illinois Electric Council, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting electric safety and efficiency.

[University of Illinois news release]

Recent articles

Back to top


 

News | Sports | Business | Rural Review | Teaching & Learning | Home and Family | Tourism | Obituaries

Community | Perspectives | Law & Courts | Leisure Time | Spiritual Life | Health & Fitness | Teen Scene
Calendar | Letters to the Editor