The cost of contacting a power line may be far greater than you realize. Nobody plans to contact an overhead or underground line. Incidents can happen when work pressures are greatest, but taking the extra time to look up or locate underground lines can save money, time and personal cost.
- Contacting a power line can cost thousands of dollars in damage to your equipment by blowing out tires or frying sensitive electronics. It can also very quickly start serious fires. In heavily farmed or forested areas, the risk of starting a wildfire is incredibly high.
- There is more to worry about than just damage and the cost to fix your own equipment. You are also responsible for damages to power poles, lines and other facilities.
- Contacting a line can also result in power outages to your property, but also to everyone who is served by the damaged line. These outages can seriously impact the livelihoods of all affected.
- You could pay the ultimate price. Electricity can seriously injure or kill. It can devastate your family. Electrical shock or burns are always a serious injury requiring immediate care and, in many cases, have resulted in the loss of limbs.
So, what’s your bottom line? Is the risk of contacting a power line more than you can afford? We hope you agree that it’s important to take a moment to stop and think to yourself, Where’s the line?
At FortisAlberta, safety is everything and we want to extend this culture to our customers. Visit fortisalberta.com for information on farm safety, to request a presentation or to download a farm safety plan that you can customize for your operation.
Accidents happen. Know what to do if you do contact a power line:
- Stay calm. If possible, break contact with the line by driving 10 metres away.
- Stay in the cab and assume the line on the ground is energized. Keep others back.
- Contact the electric utility or local emergency services and wait for the line to be de-energized.
- Only if the vehicle is on fire, exit safely by jumping clear WITH YOUR FEET TOGETHER and without touching the cab or equipment. Keep your feet together and shuffle slowly away for 10 metres.
Power Line Clearances
Do you know the maximum height your equipment can be when passing under power lines? We’ve put together this guide to assist you and help keep you safe.
- Crossing oilfield lease roads: 3 metres or 17.4 feet
- Roads or Highways:3 metres of 17.4 feet
- Commercial lanes, alleys or entrances: 8 metres or 15.7 feet
- Rights of way for underground pipelines: 3 metres or 14.1 feet
- Areas where farm equipment is used: 2 metres or 13.7 feet
- Farm or yard entrances or farm field access roads: 2 metres or 13.7 feet
- Driveways to homes or garages: 1 metres or 13.5 feet
- Areas accessible to pedestrians only: 6 metres or 11.8 feet
Submitted By:
Mona Bartsoff
FortisAlberta
