皇家华人

鈥楩amiliarity must not lead to complacency鈥�

NFU Deputy President David Exwood said: 鈥淥verhead power lines are a familiar feature across our farms, but familiarity must not lead to complacency. Every year, lives are lost or changed forever because of accidental contact with power lines 鈥� often during busy and pressured times like harvest.

鈥淭his new guidance is a practical tool to support safer working practices on farm, keeping farmers, their families and their businesses safe. I urge every farmer to read it, share it and take time to consider how they are managing these risks.鈥�

Read the guidance at: .

Staying safe

The following is designed to help keep you safe when working under OHPLs:

• Before you head out on the farm, always check for power lines above you 鈥� 鈥榣ook out, look up, look after yourself鈥�.
• If your farm machinery hits a power line, stay in the cab if safe, call 105 and wait for help.
• Never touch an overhead line and don鈥檛 assume it鈥檚 dead 鈥� always assume it鈥檚 live unless, or until, the owner of the line has confirmed that it鈥檚 dead.
• When machinery is in contact with an overhead line, anyone who touches both the machinery and the ground can be electrocuted. Stay in the machinery and lower raised parts in contact with the line or drive the machinery out of the line.
• If an object, such as a tree or stack of bales, has fallen onto an OHPL, it is best practice to seek professional help (via calling 105), ensuring a trained person with the correct machinery is undertaking next steps and the repair job.
• If you need to get out, to call for help or because of fire, don鈥檛 climb out as usual 鈥� jump out as far as possible, without touching the line or machinery. Don鈥檛 touch any part of the machinery when on the ground. Once on the ground, take leaping strides or bunny hops to move as far away as possible from the area. Ensure everyone stays at least 10 metres away from the vehicle until informed it is safe to move closer.
• Call 105 and ask to disconnect the supply. Even if the line appears dead, don鈥檛 touch it. 105 is applicable for all Distribution Network Operators (DNOs).

Power line heights

Low voltage, 11kV and 33kV lines have a minimum height requirement of 5.2 metres.

132kV lines have a minimum height requirement of 6.7 metres.

Pylons for 275kV and 400kV lines have minimum height requirements of 7 metres and 7.3 metres respectively.

If you have any safety concerns about the lines or poles, such as lines falling below the minimum height requirement, do not attempt to measure or raise the height of the line yourself. Contact your DNO on 105 to highlight your safety concerns and request the infrastructure be assessed and if necessary repaired.

Preventing problems

There are a number of things you can consider to prevent problems with OHPLs on your land.

• Discuss with your DNO about undergrounding lines, especially around farmyards.
• Consider alternative uses for fields with OHPLs to reduce the need for machinery moving underneath the lines.
• Consider creating exclusion zones around poles and lines to minimise the risk of contact with machinery.
• Map your farm to know where overhead and underground power lines and other utilities travel.

More guidance from the Health and Safety Executive on avoiding danger with OHPLs can be found at: