Lake Region Electric Cooperative
Our lineworkers and other employees respond to many pole hits or snagged lines this time of year that not only cause outages, but can be deadly, too. Overhead lines end up on the ground and they can still be energized. Our employees then have to repair the line, and not often in the best of conditions. To maintain our safe conditions of powering you with electricity, we need your help. Here’s what you can do.
Look around where you are working. Note where the overhead lines enter, exit, and surround the area.
- How close are you to the poles when using the equipment in the field?
- Will you be moving irrigation systems around this fall that could get into the overhead lines?
- Do you have anyone helping you harvest this fall? Have you discussed watching for overhead lines? Do you use a spotter?
- Have you taken time to figure out the best routes in and out of your fields to avoid overhead lines?
- Shifting soil may also affect whether or not machinery avoids power lines from year to year. Has the soil shifted in any key spots?
- Are any of the power lines sagging? Report this condition right away.
Look at your equipment.
- Are there any antennas or other attachments that could contact a power line or hit a pole when turning?
- As you use newer, larger equipment, can it still clear the power line? You should stay at least 20 feet away on ALL sides.
- Do you have equipment that folds up or down? Before deploying or activating this feature, make sure you are clear of the power line and poles.
