Tips

Look up, look out, look around for harvest safety

Nearly every year, harvest equipment comes into contact with a power line or distribution power pole in the rural parts of OPPD’s service territory.

So as harvest season begins, it’s a good time to review safety precautions. The following apply year round, but are especially important this time of year.

• Look up, look out and look around. Be aware of overhead power lines at all times.
• Don’t stack hay or round bales near electrical lines to avoid electrical contact with hay loaders or other moving equipment.
• Always lower grain augers when moving from bin to bin.
• Be aware of the location of down guywires and anchors on overhead power lines.
• When moving farm equipment, know the loaded height of trucks and equipment so contact isn’t made with overhead power lines on roads and around field entrances.

OPPD reminds farmers to check clearances for equipment, especially if they’ve recently purchased a new piece of machinery. When in doubt, call your local OPPD office. The utility can send someone to check the height and clearance.

Farmers get accustomed to the size of old equipment as they enter and exit fields, so they may not realize a new piece of equipment is a higher height.

Regardless of the time of year, never approach a downed power line. If a line does comes down while you are in a piece of machinery, DO NOT leave the equipment and call 911 and OPPD immediately so they can help you exit safely.

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