Electricity
What you need to do...
The law says you must take precautions against the risk of death or injury from electricity. Electrical equipment must be safe, and properly maintained. You should isolate the power supply before carrying out any repair or maintenance work. The key issues are:
What you need to know...
On average about two people are killed by electricity in agriculture every year, but there are many more incidents which damage equipment and thousands of ‘near-misses’, any of which could have had fatal consequences.
Many of these involve contact with overhead power lines (OHPLs) and cause disruption and costs to farmers, other businesses and the community.
Others involve poorly maintained hand-held equipment or extension cables.
Poor electrical installations and equipment can also cause fires, resulting in significant losses in buildings, equipment and livestock.
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Overhead power lines
Electricity can jump gaps when equipment or machinery gets close enough – you do not need to contact OHPLs to be injured. Make sure you have a map of the routes of the lines (available from your DNO) and that visiting workers such as contractors have copies (include details of OHPLs in contracts).
If you have to work near OHPLs, check with your DNO and if necessary arrange temporary disconnection.
If OHPLs run across your land, ask your distribution network operator (DNO) if they can be re-routed, put underground, or raised. Do not do any of the following within a horizontal distance of at least 10m from OHPLs unless you consult the DNO and agree a safe system of work:
- stack bales or potato boxes and erecting temporary structures such as polytunnels;
- jobs involving moving ladders or irrigation pipes;
- fold sprayer booms;
- tip trailers or lorries;
- operate materials handlers;
- work on top of combines or other high machinery;
- tree work.
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What to do if you come into contact with an OHPL
- If part of a vehicle or load is in contact with an OHPL, the operator should remain in the cab and inform the DNO immediately (display the number in the cab and keep it on your mobile phone).
- Keep others away.
- Try to drive clear. If this is not possible JUMP CLEAR – do not dismount by climbing down the steps. Do not return to the vehicle until the owner of the line has confirmed that it has been de-energised and made safe.
- Never try to disentangle equipment until the owner of the line has confirmed that it has been de-energised and made safe.
- WARNING: Contact with an OHPL may cause the power supply to ‘trip out’ temporarily and it may be reconnected and re-energised automatically, without warning.
Look at the Energy Network Association's (ENA) website for more information: www.energynetworks.org
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Underground cables
If you suspect there are underground cables owned by the DNO in the vicinity of where you propose to excavate, ask the DNO for plans to confirm their location. If they are in close proximity you may need to ask someone from the DNO to come and accurately locate them for you.
If you are excavating where your own cables are present, then someone who is experienced in underground cable detection techniques should help you locate them.
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Your electrical system
Make sure that:
- there is an accessible and clearly identified switch near each fixed machine to cut off power in an emergency;
- power cables to machines are suitably protected (armoured cable, covered in thick flexible rubber or neoprene, or installed in conduit) with a good earth connection;
- there are enough socket outlets – overloading sockets by using adaptors is a fire hazard;
- fuses and circuit breakers are correctly rated for the circuit they protect. Fuses must never be bypassed, over-wired or wrapped with foil;
- socket outlets outdoors, in damp or corrosive atmospheres, or where steam or water jets are used, are of an appropriate type and protected by a residual current device (RCD). Get advice – never use a household-type socket;
- main switches are readily accessible and clearly identified, and everyone knows how to use them in an emergency;
- wiring is installed in conduit or similar to avoid damage by rats and mice;
installations are checked periodically and repairs carried out by a competent electrician;
- damaged cables are repaired or replaced immediately.
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Portable equipment
Electrical tools used outdoors or where there is a lot of earthed metalwork should be either
- operated at reduced voltage from a safety isolating transformer (eg 110 volts centre tapped to earth); or
- be connected through an RCD which will cut off the power quickly if there is an earth fault.
Consider whether you can avoid using electricity altogether, eg by using pneumatic tools in the workshop, but check the noise levels are not too high.
Make sure you and your workers:
- use electrical plugs and fittings that are robust and suitable for wet or dusty conditions;
- regularly inspect the wiring and condition of all portable tools – including hired or borrowed tools;
- take suspect or faulty tools out of use and make sure they are not used until repaired by a competent person;
- make someone responsible for regularly operating the ‘test’ button on RCDs to ensure they work correctly;
- unplug or isolate appliances before cleaning or adjusting;
- provide enough socket outlets to keep the use of extension leads to a minimum;
- on welding sets, only use insulated leads and undamaged electrode holders.
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Electric shock
It is important to know what to do if someone receives an electric shock. Remember always to disconnect the power source first. If that is not possible, never touch the electrocuted person except with non-conducting items and never use metal. Resuscitation needs training and practice so make sure that you and your workers receive elementary first aid training. You can also display a copy of an ‘electric shock poster’ which shows what to do.
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