We want you to make it home safe every day so here are some rural safety tips.
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Look up. Keep 4m away from power lines at all times. Electricity can arc (jump) through the air from power lines to you or your equipment within this distance. Treat every power line as live at all times.
Always take care when working around the guy wires (or stays) that are attached to power poles. Bumping them can cause poles to lean and power lines to sag.
Park stock trucks and large vehicles such as harvesters away from overhead lines, and work well away from lines and poles. Keep clear of power lines when working on the upper levels of stock trucks or on high loads.
Look up and check where lines are before raising any tractor attachments, augers, ladders, or using any lifting equipment or raising dump truck beds. -
Because farms have lots of equipment, it’s tempting to trim or remove trees yourself or help others to do so. If a tree is within 4m of the overhead lines you must use an approved contractor to have it trimmed. Contact WEL Networks for a list of approved contractors.
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When moving tall machinery or vehicles, choose a route where power lines are high enough to give adequate clearance. Keep lifting equipment in a lowered position when moving under lines.
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Store, load and unload metal irrigation pipes well away from power lines. If you need to stand them up, make sure you’re well clear of any lines.
Keep jet irrigators and the booms of rotary irrigators clear of all power lines. The tips of rotary irrigators must be kept 4m from power lines at all times whether they are in use or not. -
Farmers and fencers have been injured and killed when fence wire has snapped and flicked up onto power lines. Keep fencing away from the path of overhead lines.
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You need to be careful if you’re planning any earthworks, landscaping, fencing or drainage on your farm. Electricity cables and gas pipes might be under the paddocks, in your garden, under your driveway or under the roadside verge.
It’s quite common to use the roadside for grazing or haymaking. But make sure you find out where underground power cables (other cables) are first, before you drive in things like waratahs.Contact beforeUdig to find out where underground cables are on or near your farm.