Safety Information for Farmers and Agricultural Contractors

There are more than 100km of electricity overhead lines crossing the countryside in Jersey. Often unnoticed, they are essential to provide electricity to the rural communities in all 12 parishes. In the UK, overhead lines carry voltages ranging from 230 volts (domestic voltage) up to 400,000 volts but in Jersey, overhead lines are restricted to 230 / 400 volts, which can still provide a lethal shock.

In the UK, approximately five people die each year due to accidental contact with overhead power lines. The use of agricultural machinery (such as hedge cutters, combine harvesters, tipping trailers, boom sprayers and loaders) and equipment (such as irrigation pipes and ladders) as well as activities such as stacking, can often bring farmers and agricultural contractors close to such power lines.

These notes provide a basic guide to maximise your chances of remaining safe when:-

• hedge cutting
• ploughing
• using Irrigation pipes and ladders
• using combine harvesters
• loading or unloading vehicles
• using tipper wagons or trailers in fields
• stacking materials
• in the vicinity of electricity overhead power lines

Some general key points:

• In Jersey, electricity overhead lines are restricted to 230 / 400 volts, which can still provide a lethal shock
• Never assume that electrical equipment is dead, even if the wires have fallen or broken
• Remember that the power can be switched back on at any time, without warning
• Touching electricity wires or objects / persons in contact with the wires can be fatal
• Even the 230 volt overhead lines can produce 10,000 times more current than is required to kill a person
• Electricity can jump gaps
• Trees, string, ropes, suspension lines and water can conduct electricity
• Rubber boots will not protect you
• Most overhead electricity wires are not insulated
• Don’t assume wires on wood poles are telephone wires

General information:

• It is not only agricultural equipment and machinery which present a danger. A jet of water or liquid slurry can cause discharge of electricity and a high risk of fatal or severe injury
• Injuries are often caused by a combination of factors including tiredness and lack of concentration
• Always carry a mobile telephone when you are in the field to call the emergency services if necessary

Think ahead:

• Select your machinery and equipment carefully so it cannot come into contact with overhead power lines
• Assess your safe working clearances to overhead lines (refer to Section 4.1.5 of the Jersey Council for Safety & Health at Work document "Working Safely and Avoiding Danger")
• Use your machinery and equipment safely
• Plan your work so it avoids high-risk areas
• Use alternative access points and routes to fields which avoid crossing under overhead power lines
• Keep an eye out for children and visitors on your land
• Ensure that your agricultural contractors are briefed with this information
• Never construct or stack anything directly under or near to overhead lines

Consult Jersey Electricity:

If you require any advice on precautions and safe working practices to be followed near overhead electric power lines, please contact Jersey Electricity on 505460.

Know your overhead power line routes:

• Find and note the routes of overhead power lines running across your land or near its boundaries. Jersey Electricity will supply this information on request
• Mark these routes and voltages on your farm map
• Use the farm map as a reference when planning cropping and other work, instructing machine operators and contractors, or buying new equipment

Measure your machinery:

• The increases in size of farm machinery means it is important that you consider the size of both your own machinery and that used by your contractors on your land
• Find out the maximum height and vertical reach of all your machinery and equipment and that of your contractors.
  Consider the risks from overhead power lines when buying new or used machinery
• Overhead lines should be at a minimum clearance from the ground of 5.2 metres (17 feet). However live equipment fitted on poles maybe as low as 4.3 metres (14 feet)

Inform people:

• Include the Jersey Electricity emergency telephone number 505050 on your farm map and in your list of telephone contacts
• Make sure everyone who is working on your land is aware of the presence of overhead lines
• Train staff to be aware of the risks associated with overhead power lines
• Make sure they know what to do if there is an accident
• Make sure contractors are aware of the location of overhead power lines on your land

Emergency Procedure

What to do if your agricultural machinery comes into contact with an overhead line:

• Never touch overhead power line conductors
• Assume the line / wires are alive, even if they are not sparking
• Remember that, even if they are dead, the wires can become alive again with no notice. This may occur automatically after a few seconds, or up to several hours later if Jersey Electricity are not aware that the line has been damaged
• If you can, use your mobile telephone to call the emergency services or get someone else to call them. Give them your location as accurately as you can. Tell them that there are electricity wires involved and ask them to inform Electricity Company
• If your machinery is in contact with an electricity wire or within 5 metres of a damaged overhead wire then stay inside your vehicle until the emergency services or Electricity Company arrive unless there is a real threat of fire
• Once a wire is on the ground you do not have to touch it to be killed. The current may travel a significant distance through the ground and even further if the wire has fallen on a fence or other metallic objects. Be Aware, Keep Clear
• If you have to get out, then try and JUMP clear rather then stepping off the vehicle. Jump as far away as you can, landing on your feet and then RUN away at least 10 metres
• Keep others away even if you are in the cab. Someone else touching your vehicle could receive a fatal electric shock
• A Jersey Electricity engineer will confirm when the power has been turned off allowing the rescue to proceed safely

These guidelines are available to download in pdf format please select from English, Portuguese or Polish version.