Local producers are putting in long hours as harvest season continues in the southeast. SaskPower is reminding farmers to make safety a priority as the grain rush continues, specifically when it comes to operating large equipment near power infrastructure.
According to a release issued by SaskPower, there have been 219 farm-related line contacts, a 17 percent increase over the same time last year. They describe all of these incidents as preventable and advise producers to know their equipment and identify risks before beginning work, especially as today’s farm machinery is bigger than ever.
Director of Safety at SaskPower, Nidal Dabghi, urges farmers to keep safety at the top of mind.
“We understand that farmers are very busy this time of year, but safety should still be top of mind when working in the fields. Preparation and attentiveness are key to a safe harvest. Slow down, take the time you need, and stay alert.”
They encourage farmers to take precautions when working near power lines, including planning a route ahead of time using the SaskPower Look Up and Live Map, taking regular breaks to avoid fatigue, having a spotter on the ground, and retracting or lowering equipment when moving from field to field.
In the event of a line contact, they stress the importance of remaining inside the vehicle and calling the SaskPower Outage Centre at 310-2220. If a fire starts outside of the vehicle, drivers should follow the safe exit procedure.
This involved swinging the vehicle door as wide as possible, ensuring no wires are in the way and standing in the doorway of the vehicle with arms crossed and feet together. From there, jump as far away from the vehicle as possible, landing with feet together and hopping at least ten metres away from the vehicle. Call 9-1-1 immediately and do not return to the vehicle until it is safe.