Make time for safety this harvest season

Harvest season often means putting in long hours, which can make it difficult to stay alert and on the lookout for potential hazards.

Safety starts with preparation.

• Be prepared for potential emergencies before the rush of harvest season begins.
• Have a safety plan and make sure that farm workers and family members are aware of the procedures in it.
• Be sure that you can see well in the areas where you are working. Consider adding extra lighting around grain bins and augers.

Take the time to look up and look out for electrical lines

Always be aware of where they are in relation to your equipment. Keep a minimum of 10 feet away from all electrical equipment, and lower extensions before moving equipment. If you see a power line that is sagging or low, contact your utility. Also keep an eye out for guy wires. Although these wires are not energized, they can bring down live lines.

In equipment with auto-guidance systems, less focus is needed on steering, which may lead some drivers to think that they do not need to be as aware of navigation issues. However, even while using a GPS with auto-steering, farm workers need to keep safety in mind and stay focused on their surroundings.

Slow down, always stay alert, and take all recommended precautions. To help you do so, recognize when you need to take breaks so that you can be active and engaged in the farm work.

Additional electrical safety tips include:

• Use a spotter when operating large machinery near lines.
• Inspect the height of farm equipment to determine clearance.
• Look up and use care when moving any equipment such as extending augers or raising the bed of grain trucks around power lines.
• Always set extensions to the lowest setting when moving loads to prevent contact with overhead lines. Grain augers should always be positioned horizontally before being moved.
• Never attempt to move a power line out of the way or raise it for clearance.

If the machinery you are operating does make contact with a power line, stay on the equipment. Immediately call 911, warn others to stay away, and wait for the utility crew to cut the power. Only on the rare occasion that the machinery catches fire should you leave the vehicle after contact is made. If this is the case, jump off the equipment with your feet together and without touching the ground and machinery at the same time. Then, still keeping your feet together, hop to safety as you leave the area. Never touch anything that is in contact with a power line. Remember, while harvest is a busy season on the farm, it’s still important to take the time to keep safety first and look out for and stay safely away from potential hazards like overhead power lines.

For more information on electrical safety, visit SafeElectricity.org.