Ameren Shares Critical Safety Tips For Busy Harvest Season
As combines and grain trucks return to fields, Ameren is reminding Illinois and Missouri farmers to watch overhead lines and reduce preventable electrical risks.
COLLINSVILLE – As harvest season gets underway across Illinois and Missouri, Ameren is encouraging farmers and agricultural workers to make safety a top priority when working around overhead power lines and operating large farm equipment.
National Farm Safety and Health Week, observed Sept. 21-25, serves as an important reminder that modern farming technologies can improve efficiency, but vigilance remains essential when working near electrical infrastructure.
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Large combines, tractors, grain augers and grain trucks play a critical role during harvest, but their size and height can increase the risk of contact with overhead power lines. Such contact can result in serious injuries, outages and fatalities. Operating farm equipment can also kick up material in the air that limits visibility on roadways as slow-moving vehicles navigate between fields during harvest season.
"Harvest season is one of the busiest times of the year for farmers, and it's important not to let the pressure of getting crops out of the field overshadow safety," said Tommie Bugett, director of safety for Ameren. "Taking a few moments to identify hazards, maintain safe distances from power lines and stay well-rested can help prevent injuries and keep everyone safe throughout the harvest."
Ameren offers the additional following safety tips to help prevent electrical accidents:
- Use a spotter when operating large equipment near power lines.
- Keep equipment at least 10 feet away from power lines in all directions.
- Look up before moving machinery, and use extra caution when extending grain augers or raising truck beds.
- Know the height of your equipment, and verify adequate clearance before moving.
- Keep equipment extensions in their lowest position when transporting loads.
- Position grain augers horizontally before moving them.
- Never attempt to move, lift or reposition a power line.
- Contact Ameren if you notice a power line that is sagging or hanging unusually low.
If equipment comes into contact with a power line:
- Stay inside the vehicle or equipment whenever possible.
- Call 911 immediately.
- Warn others to stay away from the equipment.
- Wait for utility crews to confirm the power has been disconnected.
The only exception is if the equipment catches fire, which is uncommon. In that situation, jump clear with both feet together. Avoid touching the equipment and ground at the same time, and hop away from the area while keeping your feet together.
"Farmers know their fields and surrounding areas better than anyone," Bugett said. "If something doesn't look right, including a power line that's hanging lower than usual, stay away and let us know. We'd rather check it out than risk someone getting hurt."
While harvest season is a time when many farmers are focused on combines, grain trucks and augers, Ameren also reminds customers to plan ahead for post-harvest fieldwork, including drainage tile installation and repair projects.
Before digging, farmers and contractors should contact 811 at least three business days before excavation begins to have underground utility lines marked free of charge.
"Electrical safety doesn't end when harvest wraps up," Bugett said. "Many farmers turn their attention to drainage and field improvement projects in the fall. Contacting 811 before any digging project is one of the most important steps farmers can take to protect themselves, their crews and critical underground infrastructure."
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