Powerco

Safety for Horticulturists

Horticulture can be a dangerous business. Every year, there’s at least one fatality from accidental contact with overhead power lines while working in the farming or horticultural industry. Overheard lines can become just another feature of the landscape but disregarding them can be deadly.

By following a few simple rules you can ensure you don’t become one of the statistics.

Watch that line

Keep 4m away from lines. Equipment does not need to touch the line to be dangerous as electricity can arc over in a high voltage system. Treat every wire as live.

Moving equipment around lines

When moving tall machinery, choose the route where power lines are high enough to give adequate clearance. Always have lifting equipment in a lowered position before moving it under lines. Make sure you know where power lines are when moving vehicles with raised apparatus, such as grain augers, ladders, drills and dump truck beds.

Training vines

Do not erect wire along the same path as overhead power lines, or strain wire where it could contact lines. A broken wire flicking upwards can come into contact with nearby lines.

If power lines are down

If power lines hit your vehicle while you are in it, stay still until help arrives. Never get out of your vehicle unless you have too. If in an extreme emergency you do have to get out, do so without touching metal and ground at the same time - jump as far as you can.

If you see lines down call us immediately and make sure people and stock keep well away. Downed power lines are extremely dangerous.