Stay Safe Stay Clear: Electrical safety on the farm

Before starting any work on your farm, it is crucial to know where the overhead electricity lines and underground cables are located.

Farming is one of Ireland’s most vital and dynamic industries, but it also remains one of the most hazardous. 

Farmers face a multitude of electrical hazards, including the potential to come into contact with overhead electricity wires and underground cables.

ESB Networks are committed to helping farmers understand and manage the risks associated with electricity on the farm, ensuring that everyone who lives and works on the farm stays safe.

Why electrical safety matters on farms 

Electricity powers many essential operations on farms, from milking parlours and irrigation systems to lighting, refrigeration, and machinery. 

However, the combination of outdoor work, variable weather conditions, lone working and the use of large machinery can increase the electrical risks on the farm.

Every year, ESB Networks responds to incidents involving electricity on farms, some of which result in serious injury or even fatalities. 

These incidents can be prevented by taking time to plan work and ensuring the appropriate mitigation measures are put in place.

ESB Networks 'Dial Before You Dig' service 

Before starting any work on your farm, it is crucial to know where the overhead electricity lines and underground cables are located. 

By knowing where the lines and cables are on your farm, having mapping data to hand and following the safety guidance below, you can ensure a safer working environment for you, your family and any contractors carrying out work on your farm.

Get your free map 

You can get a map showing the main overhead electricity lines and underground cables on your property for free from ESB Networks. 

Here’s how:

• Call 1800 372 757 or email the following information to [e-mail] 
• Full address of the site location, including Eircode 
• Geographic coordinates of the site location 
• Map of the area (a screenshot from Google Maps works) 
• Your name and email address 

After you send your request, you will receive your map within ten working days.

Common electrical hazards on farms 

Understanding the risks is the first step toward prevention. Here are some of the most common electrical hazards found on Irish farms:

1. Fallen wires 

Risk: Fallen wires can be extremely dangerous and may still be live.

Safety tip: Staying clear of fallen wires and reporting them promptly can save lives. Never touch or go near fallen wires. Report them immediately to ESB Networks at 1800 372 999.

2. Machinery and high loads risk: Machinery and high loads can accidentally come into contact with overhead electricity lines.

Safety tips:

Look up and look out: Always be aware of your surroundings and the location of overhead electricity lines.

Plan access routes: Choose routes that avoid or minimise movement under overhead electricity lines.

Know your equipment’s height: Be aware of the full height of your machinery when fully extended. Compare these heights with the safe clearances marked on your farm map to identify risk areas.

Maintain a safe distance: Keep all machinery and accessories away from overhead electricity lines to prevent accidental contact.

Communicate Risks: Ensure that all agricultural contractors and other groups working on the farm are fully aware of the risks associated with overhead electricity lines and the safety measures in place.

Be careful with liquids: When using irrigating equipment, rain guns, sprinklers, or spreading slurry, be cautious. Liquid hitting overhead electricity wires or breaching the exclusion zone can cause electrocution.

Understanding the risks is the first step toward prevention.

Stay wires: Be aware of stay wires and avoid striking them to prevent damage to both machinery and the electricity network.

Do not raise wide spray booms, portable grain augers, tipper lorries, cranes, ladders, scaffolding, or telescopic handlers near overhead electricity wires.

Do not raise the level of the ground underneath overhead electricity lines.

Store materials or bales away from overhead electricity lines to avoid any risk of contact.

Consult ESB Networks: If high machinery frequently operates near overhead electricity lines, consider consulting ESB Networks about options.

GPS guidance systems: If using GPS guidance systems, please ensure that accurate electricity pole and tower location information is used.

3. Timber and hedge cutting 

Risk: Cutting trees or hedges near overhead electricity lines can lead to accidental contact.

Safety tips:

Keep a safe distance from overhead electricity lines when cutting. If necessary, contact ESB Networks for advice.

Do not cut trees or hedges that are near overhead electricity lines without first contacting ESB Networks. Apply for a free assessment through your ESB Networks Online Account for guidance. 

To ensure your safety, we may need to temporarily disconnect the electricity supply before cutting begins.

If cutting down trees, maintain a safe distance of double the tree’s height on either side of any electricity poles or overhead electricity wires. 

This will ensure a falling tree will keep a safe distance from the overhead electricity line.

Remember that electricity can jump gaps, meaning you don’t need to come into direct contact with a live wire to be seriously injured or killed.

• Always consult a tree surgeon/professional, as cutting trees and hedges is a dangerous activity.
• Be extremely cautious when cutting vegetation from a height, as branches may fall on top of wires.
• Always carry out tree-cutting work in daylight.
• Emergency Number:  In case of any accidental contact with overhead electricity lines, immediately call ESB Networks on the emergency number 1800 372 999.

4. Electric Fences and Metallic Fences 

Risk: Overhead electricity wires can sometimes end up on the ground, resting on ditches, or across electric fence wire. This means that anything metallic could be electrified and, therefore, dangerous to touch.

Safety tip: Where practical, ensure fences are installed away from overhead electricity lines and regularly check for any potential contact points.

• Always assume that electricity wires are live.
• Never touch or handle fallen electricity wires.
• Avoid Fixing to Poles: Never fix gates or electric fence wire to ESB Networks poles.

5. Farm electrical installations and hand tools 

Risk: Poorly installed or maintained electrical systems and tools can be hazardous

Safety tip:

Farm wiring installation: Ensure all wiring is installed to standards by a registered electrician. Regularly assess and maintain your electrical installations. 

Make sure all electrical hand tools are maintained and professionally repaired.

Generator use: If you have a generator, make sure it has a changeover switch installed by a professional to safely switch between mains and generator power.

Our free shrouding service 

Risk: Working near live low-voltage overhead electricity lines without proper controls may be dangerous.

Safety tip: Use the shrouding service provided by ESB Networks to cover live low-voltage lines and reduce the risk of accidental contact during work. Contact 1800 372 757 to arrange.

In the event of an emergency 

 • Emergency Number: ESB Networks operates a 24/7, 365-day-a-year emergency number – 1800 372 999. Save this number in your phone and ensure all contractors working on your farm do the same before starting work.

If the worst happens, follow these steps to stay safe:

Risk: If a machine or its attachments come into contact with an overhead electricity wire, it could be fatal for anyone who touches the machine. Do not rely on rubber tyres or rubber-soled boots for protection – they will not insulate against a high-voltage shock.

Safety steps:

Step 1: Keep Clear. The driver of a vehicle that comes into contact with overhead electricity wires will usually remain safe in the cab. Other people are at risk if they make simultaneous contact with the vehicle (and anything attached to it) and the ground. Ensure everyone stays at least 10 metres away from the vehicle or fallen wires.

Step 2: Get Help. You, or someone else, should contact ESB Networks’ emergency number 1800 372 999 immediately.

Step 3: Jump Clear. If you have to leave the cab, jump well clear so that no simultaneous contact is made between you, the vehicle, and the ground. Land on your feet and do not touch the ground with your hands. Move away at once using short steps or bunny hop with both feet together.

Step 4: Stay Clear. Do not go back to the vehicle, even if you think it is safe to do so. It may still be live. Nobody should approach the vehicle until ESB Networks has confirmed that it is safe.

Step 5: Safe Operation. If the vehicle is not tangled with the overhead electricity wire, reverse away until contact is broken. Do not climb out of the vehicle or attempt to operate the vehicle while standing on the ground outside the vehicle.

Let us work together to keep safe 

At ESB Networks, safety is our top priority. We are committed to working with the agricultural sector to reduce incidents and raise awareness.

Let’s make electrical safety a priority not just during Agrimonth, but every day of the year.

Remember: Stay Safe. Stay Clear.

For further information, visit Staying Safe .