SaskPower is urging farmers to be cautious around power lines, especially now that spring seeding is underway.
Jordan Jackle, a consultant for media relations and issues management with SaskPower’s corporate and regulatory affairs division, said seeding is definitely the time of year when the most line contacts occur.
“I think last year we saw somewhere in the nieghbourhood of 250 farm-related contacts all together, and a lot of that happens during seeding,” said Jackle.
The number of line contacts is now including in the Ministry of Agriculture’s weekly crop report. In the report for May 10, SaskPower reported 25 cases of farm machinery coming into contact with electrical equipment over the previous week, bringing the total for the month to 27.
Machinery made contact with a power pole on May 9 near Alameda, causing a power outage in the area.
Fatigue is a common cause of power line contact, he said.
“In a year like this one, where spring was just so late, producers out there are likely feeling some pressure to get done seeding, and that might mean producers are taking fewer breaks than they might otherwise, or maybe they’re working longer hours,” said Jackle.
In other cases, producers might underestimate distance, or the height or width of equipment when working near power lines.
“This is what we tell people, is when you get into the cab of your vehicle, be sure to take a moment to look up, and see where the overhead power lines are before you get to work,” said Jackle.
“And even before all that, if you are moving equipment, make sure to plan your routes very carefully, and well ahead of time, so you know where you might be in a position in which you’re passing underneath a power line.”
In some cases, if a farmer or producer hits a power pole, it can result in minor damage to the pole. But if someone makes contact with a power line, the results can be very serious.
“In some cases, we’ll see somebody hit a pole, and then that will actually knock the power line down, and then you’re in a pretty serious situation,” said Jackle. “So they do kind of vary situation by situation, case by case.”
There haven’t been any fatalities or reported injuries so far this year from line contact.
Nine people have lost their lives due to line contact in the past 10 years, and many others have been injured.
Jackle believes SaskPower has succeeded in getting the message out, and it has evolved from an awareness campaign, to the Crown corporation asking people to take action.
SaskPower launched an awareness campaign April 30, and is taking its message to communities with its safety ambassador program. Among the items distributed will be a decal that SaskPower encourages people to put in the cab of farm or heavy machinery.
“It serves as a real visual reminder,” said Jackle. “You get in the cab of your vehicle, you see that decal, and it says ‘Look up to Live,’ and take a look around you to see where those overhead lines are.”
If equipment contacts a power line, producers are asked to stay in the cab and call SaskPower at 306-310-2220 or 911. If the vehicle has caught fire and it is not safe to do so, occupants need to get out.
After making sure there are no wires in the way, cross arms and put feet together. Jump as far away as possible and hop at least 10 metres away. Do not touch the vehicle.
