Safe

Farming is a vital and rewarding industry, but it comes with its share of risks and hazards. Cultivating a safe work environment helps prevent injuries and power outages by limiting collisions where tractors and other farm equipment come in contact with power equipment.

Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative shares some practical tips to help ensure everyone’s safety and avoid farm equipment created power outages:

• Maintain a 10-foot clearance around all utility equipment in all directions.

• Use a spotter and deployed flags to maintain safe distances from power lines and other electrical equipment when working in the field.

• If equipment contacts an energized or downed power line, contact 9-1-1 immediately and remain inside the vehicle until the power line is de-energized. In case of fire, exit by making a solid jump out of the cab (without touching it), and hop away to safety.

• Consider the equipment and cargo extensions of your vehicle. Lumber, hay, tree limbs, irrigation pipes and even bulk materials can conduct electricity, so keep them out of contact with electrical equipment.

“Safety should always take priority, so be sure to create a secure environment when working on the farm,” says MLEC President and CEO Keith Carnahan. “Check your surroundings for power poles, lines and connected equipment. Your life or someone else’s depends on it.”

MLEC is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric utility serving more than 35,000 meters in Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Lewis and Perry counties. We connect our communities to a better quality of life through power, broadband and committed service. Learn more at mlec.com.