Farmers urged to ‘Look Up It’s Live’ and avoid overhead power lines

Northern Powergrid, working with the NFU, the Energy Networks Association (ENA) and Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies), has launched its summer ‘Look Up It’s Live!’ campaign to engage the farming industry to watch out for overhead power lines.

On average, two farmers a year across the UK lose their lives due to accidental contact with power lines.

Now, as arable farmers across the region begin haymaking and silage collection and start the combine season for cereal crops like wheat, barley or maize, tractors and combine harvesters will be a common sight in fields and on countryside roads, all potentially at risk of coming into contact with live electricity cables.

The network operator’s refreshed campaign has sought industry feedback on how to best reach the farming community, especially young farmers who are the farmers of the future, on how to stay safe and avoid electricity hazards.

‘A life-saving reminder’

As a contributor to the ENA’s refreshed ‘Agriculture – Look Out, Look Up!’ guidance, Northern Powergrid is helping to promote safer farming practices nationally to help save lives.

The free guide offers clear advice and visuals to help farmers plan spraying, harvesting, hedge-cutting, loading and other activities safely and also outlines updated emergency procedures and proper use of GPS and height-measuring tools, providing clarity on statutory clearance distances.

The guide also complements Northern Powergrid’s own ‘Working together with agriculture to save lives’ booklet, endorsed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Gareth Pearson, Northern Powergrid’s director of health, safety and training, said: “Our refreshed ‘Look Up It’s Live!’ campaign puts partnership working at the heart of everything we do to champion farm safety across our region and beyond.”

He added: “We’re proud to work with the NFU to engage farmers and support the work carried out by the ENA and Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies) as we approach their annual Farm Safety Week.

“Farming accidents are low in the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire, but we’re reminding farmers to ‘Look Up It’s Live! and check where overhead power lines are located before starting their summer harvest.

“We’ll be sharing our campaign messages via our social media channels, and information is available at northernpowergrid.com/safety.”

Stephanie Berkeley, manager at Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies), said that ‘Look Up It’s Live!’ is more than just a slogan — it is a life-saving reminder that could mean the difference between a close call and a tragedy.

“Raising awareness about the dangers of working near overhead power lines is a cornerstone of our education programme. It is essential that young farmers and those new to the industry understand the potentially fatal risks and know exactly what to do in an emergency.

“Too often, it’s seasonal workers or haulage contractors, unfamiliar with the land and unaware of the hazards, who are most at risk.

“As we mark our 13th annual Farm Safety Week, we call on the entire industry to help spread this message far and wide. Together, we can prevent needless accidents and make our farms safer places to live and work,” she added.

Request free farm safety pack

Farmers can request a free safety pack which contains a Look Up It’s Live! safety advice leaflet, cab sticker and air freshener with lifesaving emergency advice on what to do if farmers come into contact or too close to power lines.

Email: safety.information@northernpowergrid.com to register.

Agriculture colleges can also book free safety talks, delivered by Northern Powergrid’s safety team.

Staying safe near power lines

• Inform anyone working near power lines of the dangers and the action they should take in an emergency.
• Remember you don’t need to make contact with a power line to be in danger. Electricity can jump to an object or person – so stay well clear!
• Ground levels may have changed since your last visit, reducing clearance. Risk assess every situation, on every occasion.
• Always carry a mobile phone and save Northern Powergrid’s 105 phone number in your contacts.

What to do in an emergency

• Drive well clear if safe to do so and call 105.
• If unsafe to drive clear – stay in the cab, call 105, and warn others to stay clear.
• If unsafe to stay in cab – jump well clear. Do not step down or make contact with the vehicle and the ground at the same time.
• Leaping strides – land with both feet together and make leaping strides away, so that one foot is always off the ground.
• Warn others to stay clear. Damaged power lines can stay live or become live at any time without warning.
• If you need fire or medical assistance, dial 999.

Read more farm safety news.