SaskPower is reminding producers to stay safe during spring seeding.
“Each year we see hundreds of farm-related line contacts — and the number is still increasing,” said Kevin Schwing, SaskPower's director of health and safety. “We saw 327 reported incidents of farm machinery contacting electrical equipment in 2019, which is up slightly from 314 the previous year. There were no reported deaths or injuries in 2019, but sadly this is not often the case.”
SaskPower has a number of safety tips to keep in mind. This includes:
- locate overhead power lines before starting any work and maintain a safe distance;
- lower large equipment before moving to prevent contact with overhead lines;
- get proper rest, drink plenty of water, and take breaks throughout the day to prevent fatigue.
Be sure to check with SaskPower, SaskEnergy, and SaskTel to find out the location of underground lines before digging. Call 1-866-828-4888.
For more information on electrical safety, including prevention and steps to take if you hit a power line, visit SaskPower's website.
