Staff from National Grid were at the Royal Welsh Show last week offering safety advice to farmers working near overhead power lines.

The visit coincided with Farm Safety Week (July 21-25), during which National Grid urged farmers across Powys and the wider region to stay alert and ‘look out, look up’ when operating agricultural machinery close to power lines.

The electricity network operator, which serves South and West Wales, the Midlands, and South West England, highlighted the risks involved. It estimates at least one incident involving farm machinery and power lines is reported somewhere in the UK every day.

Such incidents can cause serious injuries or, in rare cases, fatalities. They also risk widespread disruption to electricity supplies, affecting homes, businesses, and vital local services.

With farming equipment becoming larger and extending higher, the clearance between machinery and power lines is increasingly reduced. National Grid emphasised that taking a moment to check the area before working can help prevent accidents and keep communities 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 in Powys and beyond with the knowledge and tools they need to stay safe,” he added.

National Grid is reminding farmers to follow crucial safety steps when working near overhead power lines:

• Never raise elevating equipment such as spray booms, cabbage harvesters, or trailer bodies close to or under power lines.

• Avoid storing or moving materials near overhead lines, as this reduces the safe clearance distance.

• Be aware of the maximum height and reach of all machinery and stay vigilant when using GPS, as accidents can still occur.

• Remember, electricity is invisible - the area around a fallen power line, including soil, equipment, and other objects, may still be live. Always keep clear.

If contact is made with a power line, farm workers should stay in the cab and try to drive clear. If that’s not possible, they should remain inside and call 105. They should only leave the vehicle in an emergency, and if so, without touching the ground and the machine at the same time, moving away using leaping strides so one foot is always clear of the ground, or by ‘bunny hopping’ with both feet together.

Farmers are also encouraged to use the What3Words app to help emergency services and engineers locate incidents quickly and accurately. This can help reduce response times and improve safety for everyone involved.

More information and resources about farming safety from National Grid are available at the website: www.nationalgrid.co.uk/customers-and-community/health-and-safety/farming-safety