Are you keeping yourself and your workers safe around powerlines?
Essential Energy knows that regional, rural and remote communities form the backbone of NSW’s agricultural industry.
As harvest activities heighten across NSW and GPS tracking and autosteer technology is more heavily relied upon, the biggest electrical safety risk for farmers is machinery coming into contact with powerlines or power poles.
Changes in weather conditions such as strong winds and extreme heat can affect the electricity network by causing lines to sway and sag.
Use these tips for keeping yourself and your workers safe on the land during daily farming activities.
Download the Look up and Live app. to identify potential electrical hazards on your property before starting work.
Install Aerial markers. Essential Energy’s Aerial Marker Program offers free installation of up to 10 aerial markers. Further information is available at essentialenergy.com.au/safety/aerial-markers.
Seasonal Worker Safety Checklist. Essential Energy’s seasonal worker checklist is a handy 5-minute checklist that all landowners can incorporate into their daily safety inductions to ensure employees understand the dangers of working around electricity, and how they can keep themselves safe. The checklist is available at essentialenergy.com.au/agribusiness
Stay. Call. Wait. Knowing how to respond in the unlikely event your machinery comes into contact with powerlines or other parts of the electricity network can save your life.
If your machinery contacts overhead powerlines, stay in the vehicle and call 000 immediately. Wait until you have received the all clear from attending Essential Energy employees that the power has been switched off and it’s safe to exit the vehicle.
Electricity can arc or ‘jump’ across open spaces, so bystanders should remain at least eight metres away and treat powerlines as live.
If an emergency exit is necessary because of fire, jump well clear of the vehicle, land with your feet together, and don’t touch the vehicle or allow your feet to step apart. Shuffle with your feet together until you are at least eight metres clear of the vehicle, powerlines or anything else in contact with them. Do not return to the vehicle for any reason.
To find out more about initiatives specific to agribusiness and safety around electricity on farms, visit essentialenergy.com.au/safety. To report a network incident, contact Essential Energy immediately on 13 20 80 or call Triple Zero (000) if the situation is life-threatening.
