At this time of year, it is important to remain vigilant around the farm and not take chances with electricity.
Avoid carrying out work underneath overhead electricity wires unless you are sure you are always a safe distance away.
For example, it’s not safe to stack bales underneath wires because when stacking or loading you run the risk of coming too close to the wires with your loader.
When travelling the fields with a high load or tall machine, avoid travelling underneath the line and only cross underneath if you are sure there is sufficient clearance. That means 3m separation.Electrical accidents keep happening when these precautions are not followed.
High loads and tall machinery have pulled down live electricity wires causing serious injuries to the driver or others nearby.
Never take a chance with electricity – always act safely.
With your own safety in mind, avoid damaging electricity poles and stays by always giving a wide berth and never working too near.
There are too many of these collision incidents happening where the tractor strikes the pole or the stay, leading to the pole breaking and the live wires coming to the ground or landing on the tractor.
Avoid travelling underneath the line and only cross underneath if you are sure there is sufficient clearance
Stay wires are essential to keep the overhead wires from sagging and when they are damaged, the wires are lower than they should be, which is then a danger for everyone in the area.
Electricity wires are always live and are never safe to approach or touch.
When an electricity wire come to the ground, the area for 5m around the wire will be electrified and dangerous. Always keep clear.
Report any damage immediately by contacting ESB Networks on 1850-372 999.
Tree or hedge-cutting or felling near overhead electricity wires should never be carried out without first contacting ESB Networks for advice.
Attempting to cut timber where it is close to the live wires is never safe unless the electricity wires are first switched off.
Every year there has been at least one very serious accident resulting in either a fatality or where the person has suffered life-changing injuries when attempting to cut timber using ladders and hand-held cutting tools.
Judging heights of trees and falling distance from electricity wires and poles requires serious experience and competence. Unless you are doubly sure, chances are they are too close. Contact ESB Networks at least four weeks in advance so that the work can be planned and customers notified in advance.
A moment’s loss of concentration is all that it takes for the accident and then it’s too late
With tree felling near electricity wires, there is always the risk of the tree falling in the wrong direction.
The advice from ESB Networks is never cut trees that are closer than the height of the tree plus one metre. Every tree is different, and your cutting position may change, but never lose sight of those wires and what could possibly happen.
In my experience as public safety manager, the accident is caused because you are thinking more about the timber part of the job and the risk of coming too close to the wires is overlooked. A moment’s loss of concentration is all that it takes for the accident and then it’s too late.
Electricity will always find the path of least resistance to travel into the ground and typically the human body is that path. Don’t put yourself in danger.
Remember electricity can jump gaps; that’s why keeping well clear of live electricity wires is so important to staying safe.
At this time of year, it is important to remain vigilant around the farm and not take chances with electricity.
Avoid carrying out work underneath overhead electricity wires unless you are sure you are always a safe distance away.
For example, it’s not safe to stack bales underneath wires because when stacking or loading you run the risk of coming too close to the wires with your loader.
When travelling the fields with a high load or tall machine, avoid travelling underneath the line and only cross underneath if you are sure there is sufficient clearance. That means 3m separation.Electrical accidents keep happening when these precautions are not followed.
High loads and tall machinery have pulled down live electricity wires causing serious injuries to the driver or others nearby.
Never take a chance with electricity – always act safely.
With your own safety in mind, avoid damaging electricity poles and stays by always giving a wide berth and never working too near.
There are too many of these collision incidents happening where the tractor strikes the pole or the stay, leading to the pole breaking and the live wires coming to the ground or landing on the tractor.
Avoid travelling underneath the line and only cross underneath if you are sure there is sufficient clearance
Stay wires are essential to keep the overhead wires from sagging and when they are damaged, the wires are lower than they should be, which is then a danger for everyone in the area.
Electricity wires are always live and are never safe to approach or touch.
When an electricity wire come to the ground, the area for 5m around the wire will be electrified and dangerous. Always keep clear.
Report any damage immediately by contacting ESB Networks on 1850-372 999.
Tree or hedge-cutting or felling near overhead electricity wires should never be carried out without first contacting ESB Networks for advice.
Attempting to cut timber where it is close to the live wires is never safe unless the electricity wires are first switched off.
Every year there has been at least one very serious accident resulting in either a fatality or where the person has suffered life-changing injuries when attempting to cut timber using ladders and hand-held cutting tools.
Judging heights of trees and falling distance from electricity wires and poles requires serious experience and competence. Unless you are doubly sure, chances are they are too close. Contact ESB Networks at least four weeks in advance so that the work can be planned and customers notified in advance.
A moment’s loss of concentration is all that it takes for the accident and then it’s too late
With tree felling near electricity wires, there is always the risk of the tree falling in the wrong direction.
The advice from ESB Networks is never cut trees that are closer than the height of the tree plus one metre. Every tree is different, and your cutting position may change, but never lose sight of those wires and what could possibly happen.
In my experience as public safety manager, the accident is caused because you are thinking more about the timber part of the job and the risk of coming too close to the wires is overlooked. A moment’s loss of concentration is all that it takes for the accident and then it’s too late.
Electricity will always find the path of least resistance to travel into the ground and typically the human body is that path. Don’t put yourself in danger.
Remember electricity can jump gaps; that’s why keeping well clear of live electricity wires is so important to staying safe.
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