Farmers in Coventry and Warwickshire being urged to 'look up and look down' to prevent accidents
Farmers across the region are being urged to stay safe when working near overhead power lines
Farmers in Coventry and Warwickshire are being are being urged to take a moment to check their surroundings and stay alert when working near overhead power lines.
National Grid are sharing one simple message to farmers, ‘look out, look up’.
It's part of a wider effort to reduce the number of incidents involving farm machinery and power lines.
It’s estimated that at least one such incident reported every day across the UK.
Incidents involving overhead power lines can result in serious injury or, in rare cases, be fatal.
They can also cause significant disruption to local electricity supplies, affecting homes, businesses and essential services.
With agricultural equipment continuing to grow in size and reach, the space between machinery and power lines is narrowing.
Taking a few seconds to assess the area before beginning a task can help avoid disruption and keep everyone safe.
Christopher Cleveland, Head of Safety at National Grid Electricity Distribution, said:
“We know the importance of farming is to the UK, how hard farmers work, and how much they rely on their equipment to get the job done. But we also know how dangerous it can be when machinery gets too close to live power lines.
“That’s why we’re urging everyone in the farming community to take a moment to ‘look out and look up’ before starting work. A few seconds of awareness can save lives.
“We’re committed to supporting farmers with the knowledge and tools they need to stay safe.”