Dangers of plants touching powerlines

A recent farm incident highlighted the importance of simple safety checks whenever working around high voltage overhead powerlines.

The incident resulted in the Electrical Safety Office being notified of a farm worker who received an electric shock while bagging bananas on a plant that had contacted high voltage overhead powerlines. The worker was not fatally injured, but the incident serves as a reminder of the importance of preparatory steps BEFORE doing work near powerlines.

Keep you and your workers safe by following these easy procedures:

• Check to see if any trees, branches or leaves are close to, can be blown into, or are touching powerlines.
• Notify your local electricity provider if any trees have grown into or could be blown into powerlines. Do not attempt to trim the tree yourself.
• Never plant crops, trees or tall vegetation under powerlines. If possible, relocate crops or vegetation away from powerlines.
• During storms or floods, if tall trees fall and bring down powerlines, contact your local electricity provider immediately.
• Make workers aware of the location of powerlines on the property before they start work – look up and live!

Remember, there are no safe electric shocks.

Further information

• Refer to the Electricity industry site.
• Contact Ergon Energy to report trees in powerlines.
• Visit the Ergon Energy website to read more about  trees and powerlines and powerline safety.

Look up and Live now available

• Ergon’s Look up and Live tool is now available as an Apple or Android app.
• View the lookupandlive.com.au instructional video.