Tips

Harvest safety: Keep an eye on power lines

Nearly every year, harvest equipment comes into contact with a power line or distribution power pole in the rural parts of OPPD’s service territory.

So as harvest season begins, it’s a good time to review harvest safety precautions . The following apply year round, but are especially important this time of year.

• Look up, look out and look around. Be aware of overhead power lines at all times.
• Don’t stack hay or round bales near electrical lines to avoid electrical contact with hay loaders or other moving equipment.
• Always lower grain augers when moving from bin to bin.
• Be aware of the location of down guy wires and anchors on overhead power lines.
• When moving farm equipment, know the loaded height of trucks and equipment to avoid making contact with overhead power lines on roads and around field entrances.

Another good harvest safety tip: Farmers should be sure to check clearances for equipment, especially if they’re using a new piece of machinery. When in doubt, call your local OPPD office. The utility can send someone to check your machinery’s height and clearance.

Farmers can get accustomed to the size of old equipment as they enter and exit fields, so they may not realize a new piece of equipment is a taller.

Regardless of the time of year, never approach a downed power line. If a line does comes down while you are in a piece of machinery, DO NOT leave the equipment and call 911 and OPPD immediately so they can help you exit safely.