Cornwall farmers told ‘check it, don’t chance it’ near power lines

If you farm in Cornwall and you work near overhead power lines or underground cables, the reminder this week is a blunt one: stop and look before you start. National Grid Electricity Distribution is using Farm Safety Week (20 to 24 July) to ask farmers across the region to check their surroundings and stay alert around electricity infrastructure. The message it wants to stick is short. Check it, don’t chance it.

Why the warning matters

National Grid Electricity Distribution, which serves the South West, the Midlands and South Wales, responds every year to incidents involving agricultural vehicles, equipment and overhead power lines. Those incidents can cause serious injury and, in some cases, can be fatal. They can also knock out local electricity supplies, affecting homes, businesses and essential services nearby.

The risk is growing rather than shrinking. As farm machinery gets bigger and reaches higher, the gap between equipment and nearby power lines gets tighter. A job that felt safe last season may not leave the same clearance this one.

Christopher Cleveland, Head of Safety at National Grid Electricity Distribution, said: “Farmers are highly skilled professionals who know their land and machinery better than anyone. But when it comes to electricity, familiarity doesn’t remove the risk.

“The biggest mistake we see is people not stopping to check before starting work. Many incidents happen during routine jobs because someone assumes they have enough clearance or believes nothing has changed since the last time they carried out the task.

“Before starting work, take a few moments to identify any nearby overhead power lines or underground cables, think through the job and make sure it can be carried out safely.

“Check it, don’t chance it.”

What to check before you start

National Grid Electricity Distribution is reminding farmers of a set of key steps when working near overhead power lines:

• Never raise elevating equipment such as spray booms, cabbage harvesters and trailer bodies under or close to overhead power lines.
• Never store or move materials under or close to overhead power lines, as this reduces the safe clearance distance beneath them.
• Know the maximum reach and height of any vehicle you are operating, and stay vigilant when using GPS. Accidents can still happen.
• You cannot see electricity. The area around a fallen line, including the soil, equipment and other objects, could be live, so stay away.
• Make sure contractors, seasonal workers and anyone unfamiliar with the site know where overhead lines are and the risks they present.
• Check for underground electricity cables before any digging or excavation work.

If your machinery makes contact

If contact is made with a power line, operators should stay in the cab if it is safe to do so and, if possible, drive clear. If that is not possible, they should stay inside and call 105 immediately.

They should only leave the vehicle in an emergency, such as a fire, and without touching the vehicle and the ground at the same time. If a farmer must get out, it is important to do it carefully with both feet together, hopping clear until they are out of the danger zone.

Farmers are also encouraged to use What3Words to help engineers and emergency services find incidents quickly and accurately, which cuts response times and helps keep people safe.

More information and safety resources are available on the National Grid farming safety guidance page.