SSEN reminds farming community to ‘Look out, look up, look after yourself’ during harvest season

As we enter one of the busiest times of the agricultural calendar, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Distribution is reminding farmers of its annual safety drive; asking them to be mindful of the overhead electricity network and to ‘Look out, look up, look after yourself’.

SSEN’s successful farm safety campaign has been tailored and developed over the years through direct engagement with farming communities and organisations. It’s this ongoing feedback that has influenced the 2023 farm safety drive which includes radio, trade press, digital and social media advertising. Talks, meetings and events will also be held across both north and south distribution areas throughout the harvest months to enable farmers, contractors and SSEN to continue to spread the safety message from spring through to autumn.

In the last year, SSEN has seen a further reduction in the number of non-injury events in farms and fields across its network in the north of Scotland and central southern England, with around 800?in 2022, compared to 853 in 2021 and 865 in 2020.

While these figures continue to move in the right direction, SSEN knows there is no room for complacency and is keen to reach as many farmers, agricultural contractors and landowners as possible, to bring this number down even further – year on year.

Peter Vujanic, Head of Safety for SSEN Distribution said:

“SSEN’s 'Look out, look up, look after yourself,' initiative aims to provide farmers with crucial information that could help save lives and prevent debilitating injuries. We describe this campaign, as 'crafted by farmers, for farmers,' as our ongoing collaboration with the agricultural community and farmers’ unions has heavily influenced the campaign’s direction.

“The feedback we’ve received from farmers indicates that tiredness and time pressure are the primary reasons for accidents involving overhead power lines, so we’re urging farmers, landowners and their contractors to not only be aware of their surroundings and potential hazards, but also to prioritise their own wellbeing.”

Peter continued:

“Fortunately, SSEN has observed a decrease in non-injury events in farms and fields across our network in recent years, which is encouraging. However, approximately five workers are killed across the UK each year due to machinery coming into contact with overhead electricity lines. That’s five too many and we hope that our campaign and the advice we offer will ensure everyone returns home safely at the end of their working day.”

SSEN has produced the following advice to help farmers stay safe when working near the electricity network:?

• Before you head out on the farm,?always?check for power lines above you – ‘Look out, look up, look after yourself’.
• If your farm machinery hits a power line: stay in the cab if safe, call 105 and wait for help.
• Never?touch an overhead line and don’t assume it’s dead – always assume it’s live unless, or until, the owner of the line has confirmed that it’s dead.
• When machinery is in contact with an overhead line, anyone who touches both the machinery and the ground can be electrocuted. Stay in the machinery and lower raised parts in contact with the line or drive the machinery out of the line if you can.
• If you need to get out, to call for help or because of fire, don’t climb out in the usual way – jump out as far as possible, without touching the line or the machinery, and don’t touch any part of the machinery when on the ground.
• Call 105 and ask us to disconnect the supply. Even if the line appears dead, don’t touch it as automatic switching may reconnect the power.

To find out more about safety around the electricity network and the steps you can take to stay safe when working outdoors, please click on the link below: