Farmers are being urged to be cautious near power lines now that the growing season is fully underway.
In 2013, FortisAlberta recorded 35 incidents of farm workers contacting an electrical power line. Despite the fact there were no fatalities, farmers are still being urged to take several precautions, said Kevin Haslbeck, a spokesperson with the company.
Operators of equipment are advised to keep equipment at least seven metres (21 feet) away from power lines. Farmers should also contact www.AlbertaOneCall.com if they will be digging underground to make sure there are no electrical installations underground in proximity to where they will be digging. They can also call 310-WIRE or 1-800-242-3447 to ask about electrical lines.
Trees can also pose a danger in that they can grow over lines, and if agricultural equipment brushes one of the tree's branches which has grown over a wire, equipment striking that branch could conduct electricity.
Haslbeck said it's important to plan where bins will be placed in a yard so that equipment won't strike an overhead line. Equally important is knowing the height of bins and equipment. As an example, Haslbeck said one farmer had several grain bins lined up underneath an overhead line and while working near the bins he struck the line.
“He had been moving them and he came into contact (with a wire). It's always very important for them to plan the layout of their yard and then really plan their route when they're moving equipment or working on the field and ensuring that they take the power poles and wires into account, especially now that they're using a lot of GPS equipment. They're actually relying on the GPS to control the large farm vehicles. (The GPS units) don't factor in the poles and wires and they (can) actually take out full poles,” he said.
Haslbeck said if farmers are in doubt whether their equipment could strike a line, FortisAlberta staff can always visit a site, measure the height of farm equipment and assess whether or not a work situation will be safe.
"It's always very important for them to plan the layout of their yard and then really plan their route when they're moving equipment or working on the field and ensuring that they take the power poles and wires into account."Kevin Haslbeck spokespersonFortisAlberta
