13 February 2009 16:09 Farm safely when working near power lines, warns Central Networks

Central Networks, the electricity distribution company for central England, is repeating its safety advice for farm labourers working near electricity lines after more than 2,000 customers lost power in Lincolnshire last night (THURS).

Engineers investigating a power cut in Pinchbeck, near Spalding, found that an 11,000 volt overhead line had been brought down by a sugar beet loading machine, knocking out power to 2,054 customers.

Most had power back on an hour after the incident at 1850hrs but 61 customers remained off until 2310hrs, when the line was repaired.

Phil Wilson, Customer Operations Manager at Central Networks, said: "Large machinery, tall farm equipment and overhead power lines are a potentially lethal combination.

"We appreciate farm work often needs to be done early in the morning or late in the evening which is why we do our bit to make sure as many people as possible are aware of the dangers of working near power lines."

Central Networks' safety advice is available online in the seven languages most widely spoken by farm workers in central England - Lithuanian, Polish, Russian, Portuguese, Turkish and Czech. And of course they are already available in English.

Leaflets are available to download from the company's website: www.central-networks.co.uk.

Advice to farm workers includes:

• Avoid operating plant or using equipment where any part is likely to approach close to, or touch, overhead power lines;
• Be particularly careful when moving plant or equipment, especially if the machinery has long booms;
• Stay wires are attached to some poles to provide stability for the overhead power lines - check if there are any near your work. If you do damage a stay wire, contact Central Networks immediately.

Ends

Notes to editors:

• Central Networks brings power to 4.9 million customers across central England through 133,000km of underground and overhead cables and via almost 97,000 substations;
• Central Networks covers an area from the Peak District in the north to parts of Bristol in the south, and from the Welsh Borders to the Lincolnshire Coast.

For further information contact:

Andrew Barrow on 024 7618 3677