24 February 2010 16:08 Central Networks urges farmers to look up, look out after Lincs power line brought down

Central Networks, the electricity distribution company for central England, has today (WED) reminded farm workers to look to the skies when operating heavy machinery to avoid a potentially deadly accident.

The warning comes after a sugar beet harvester managed to hook itself on overhead lines in Whaplode Fen, pulling down a power pole and damaging the line to a nearby house.

Phil Wilson, Customer Operations Manager for Central Networks, said: "Heavy machinery, high items of farm plant and overhead power lines can be a lethal combination. All farm workers need to be aware of the potential dangers.

"In this case, the operator did the right thing. He waited in the cab until we could assess the situation and be sure he could get out safely.

"It's really important farm workers operating machinery take a little time to make sure they know where overhead lines are, take into account the height of the equipment they're using and how much clearance under the power lines they need.

"We have safety advice in seven languages and I urge farmers to download our safety brochures from our website to hand out to their staff."

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 from one place to another, 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 in the vicinity of your work. If you do damage a stay wire, contact Central Networks immediately.

Central Networks' safety advice is available online in English as well as the seven languages most widely spoken by farm workers in central England - Lithuanian, Polish, Russian, Portuguese, Turkish and Czech. Visit http://www.central-networks.co.uk/

Ends

Notes to editors:

• Central Networks brings power to 9.4 million people 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 Boarders to the Lincolnshire Coast.

For further information contact:

Alisha Allen on 02476 192 063