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Plan Ahead to Prevent Power Line Contacts |
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| As harvest season approaches, make sure everyone on your orchard, farm or ranch knows how to work safely around overhead power lines. Power line safety precautions are critical when using long/tall harvesting equipment and tools, securing loads, and storing, installing and operating irrigation systems. |
Order our complimentary worker
safety kit on the PG&E
e-SMARTworkers
website. |
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| Stay at least 10 feet away |
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Check for power lines, utility poles and support wires before starting every job. Mark a safety boundary to keep workers, tools, and equipment at least 10 feet away from overhead power lines during all harvesting activities. Higher voltages require a larger safety zone. |
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If you must work closer than the required clearance, call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000 or our Ag Help Line at 1-877-311-3276 to arrange for safety provisions. |
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Use a dedicated spotter on the ground to help you maintain the required safety zone when operating large or tall equipment such as loader tractors, grain augers, scissor lifts and cherry pickers. |
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Carry ladders, telescopic fruit pickers and other long tools level with the ground. Reposition them carefully to avoid hitting power lines. |
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Always check for overhead lines before you throw a tie-down to secure a load. |
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| Ensure irrigation system safety |
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Store wheeled irrigation equipment at least 100 feet from power lines. Keep irrigation pipe at least 10 feet from power lines. |
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When installing aboveground irrigation systems, keep pipes level with the ground to avoid accidentally lifting them into lines. |
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Ensure that the sprinkler stream breaks into droplets instead of forming a single unbroken stream. |
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Ensure that the transport route for moving irrigation equipment maintains the required clearance from power lines. |
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| If your equipment contacts a power line |
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Stay on the equipment until PG&E says it is safe to get off. |
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Warn others to stay away. Anyone on the ground who touches the equipment may be seriously injured. |
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Call 911 immediately and then call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000 or our Ag Help Line at 1-877-311-3276. |
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If you must exit the vehicle because of imminent risk from fire or other serious safety hazards:
- Remove loose items of clothing, jewelry, seat belts and anything else that could obstruct you.
- Jump entirely clear of the vehicle and the line, as far away as possible.
- As you jump, keep both feet together and land without touching the ground and equipment at the same time.
- After you land, do not touch the vehicle or line.
- Shuffle away with small steps or hop away on two feet, keeping both feet together at all times.
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| Want to know more? |
| Additional utility safety tips, case studies, instructional videos and educational tools can all be found, at no charge to you, on PG&E's
e-SMARTworkers website. |
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