Safety around powerlines on the land

With a network that spans 95% of NSW and serves 1,500 rural, regional and remote communities, Essential Energy recognises many of these communities form the backbone of our agricultural industry.

We also know that one of the biggest risks when it comes to electrical safety is agricultural and industrial machinery coming into contact with powerlines and power poles.

It’s for this reason, that Essential Energy provides awareness and education of these risks and encourages those working on the land to take the steps to protect their safety and the safety of others when working near electricity infrastructure.

Essential Energy’s Head of Organisational Safety, Michael Flannery, described public safety as a shared responsibility. “Our goal is to help farmers and agricultural workers to understand how to protect their safety and the safety of others when working near the electricity network.

“Essential Energy’s educational safety campaigns focus on those working on the land and reinforce the need for farmers to remain alert to electrical hazards and aware of the location of electrical infrastructure, such as overhead powerlines,” Michael said.

While there has been a slight decline in incidents of equipment hitting powerlines and power poles across the electricity network in recent months, it’s pertinent workers remain alert to the risks. To help reduce the risk of these potentially fatal accidents, landowners are encouraged to consider installing aerial markers on their property.

Essential Energy offers a range of tools to help keep workers safe while working on the farm. This includes an Aerial Marker Program, offering the installation of up to 10 aerial powerline markers free of charge to increase powerline visibility and help reduce contact with overhead powerlines, landowners just cover the costs of the aerial markers.

“Feedback from those undertaking work near where aerial markers are installed has been very positive, with people saying how amazed they are with how eye catching the markers are, and others stating they help save lives,” said Michael.

SafeWork NSW offer rebates to eligible small businesses and sole traders in NSW who buy and install equipment that makes their workplace safer, meaning many agribusinesses may be able to claim back up to $1000 of the purchase cost of the powerline markers.

Tips for staying safe

• Plan ahead to stay safe. Download the ‘Look up and Live’ app and enquire with Essential Energy around the install of aerial markers and other electrical safety measures, to help keep people safe this season. Essential Energy offers site visits on request to discuss ways to stay safe around powerlines, including considering installing aerial markers.
• Check it out. Essential Energy offers a range of safety checklists and fact sheets to inform and educate workers on the dangers of working around electricity and how they can keep themselves safe.
• Stay. Call. Wait. It’s critical to know how to respond in the unlikely event your machinery comes into contact with powerlines or other parts of the electricity network. “If your machinery contacts overhead powerlines, stay in the vehicle and call 000 immediately. Wait until you have received the all clear from attending Essential Energy employees that the power has been switched off and it’s safe to exit the vehicle. This is a critical step that could save your life. Too often we have seen incidents occur because workers did not know how to respond when their machinery contacted the network – staying put could save your life,” Michael said.
• Stay clear when powerlines are near. Remember that electricity can arc or ‘jump’ across open spaces, so bystanders should remain at least eight metres away and treat powerlines as live.

“If an emergency exit is necessary because of fire, jump well clear of the vehicle, land with your feet together, and don’t touch the vehicle, fall forward or backward, or allow your feet to step apart,” Michael added. “Shuffle with your feet together until you are at least eight metres clear of the vehicle, powerlines or anything else in contact with them. Do not return to the vehicle for any reason.”

To find out more about initiatives specific to agribusiness and electricity safety on farms, including suitability of aerial markers for your property, visit essentialenergy.com.au/agribusiness.

To report a network incident, call Essential Energy immediately on 13 20 80 or call Triple 000 if the situation is life-threatening.