Farming and ranching is among the more dangerous occupations. Every year an average of 62 men and women working on farms are electrocuted when farm machines touch overhead power lines. We urge producers to share these safety tips with anyone they are working with to keep everyone safe.
Train Others –Train anyone working on your farm, including family members and seasonal workers, about electrical hazards.
Safety First – Have daily meetings to review the day’s work and discuss safety implications. Know and review where the overhead power lines and underground transformer boxes are located, the clearance required and the proper position of extensions as they are transported.
Wait to Unfold – Remind workers to fold or unfold extensions well into the field, not close to the field’s edge where power lines are typically located.
Use a Spotter – When working in the vicinity of power lines, always have a spotter on the ground, who can direct you away from power lines, poles or underground transformer boxes if you are getting too close.
Do Not Exit Your Cab – If your machine or truck makes contact with a power line, pole, guy wire or underground transformer box, you could become electricity’s path to ground and become electrocuted if you step out of the cab.
Call 9-1-1 – Call 9-1-1 to have Dakota Energy dispatched to deenergize the power line source. Only exit the cab if your equipment is on fire or you see smoke. If that happens, make a solid jump out of the cab, without touching the equipment, and hop away with feet together for at least 50 feet or more.
Watch this short video on farm safety tips: