As farmers head to the fields for harvest, most will encounter powerlines and railroad crossings.
Here are three reminders of safety tips to follow in these areas.
Stay in Your Vehicle
Sometimes, it’s inevitable. The only point of field access for your equipment means going under a power line or right next to a power pole where the lines sag too far. And according to Fred Whitford, Purdue pesticide programs, clinical engagement professor, power lines in rural areas aren’t always maintained at the minimum clearance for agriculture.
If your equipment comes in contact with a power line while entering a field, the most important thing to do is to stay seated where you are.
“The key is if you hit a pole, if you hit the guide wires and pull something down, if you pull wires on you, you stay in the cab. You are safe in the cab,” Whitford says. “Assume everything is hot, in spite of what you think you heard, and stay there until a representative of the power company tells you it is safe to leave.”
The issue with exiting the vehicle is that most people will step out on one foot while maintaining contact with the vehicle, which creates the ground – making you the transmitter of electricity from the wires to the ground.
This rule should also be followed if you approach an accident where someone has made contact with a power pole.
“When you come up to an accident, you want to help somebody, “Whitford says. “You get out by holding onto something, putting your foot on the ground and then you just grounded yourself. That’s how you get killed.”
Whitford reiterates the best thing to do is to stay in your vehicle or cab and call 911. If you can see the number listed on the pole, you can also call the power company and let them know. The power company needs to shut off electricity to that pole before the police or EMTs can make contact.
How to Exit if a Fire Starts
While the best-case scenario is staying in the cab, that rule goes out the window if the equipment catches fire.
According to Whitford, there’s a specific way to exit without creating a ground.
“Cross your arms and just make a simple jump, sticking both feet down,” he says. “Then you’re going to shuffle your feet close together or you’re going to bunny hop.”
The key to this method is that by crossing your arms and jumping, there is no contact between your body and the vehicle once the ground is touched.
“This does not need to be an Olympic jump,” Whitford adds. “That would only make you stumble and get grounded.”
Railroad Crossing Best Practices
Don’t get too comfortable around railroad crossings this fall. Always make a complete stop and look both ways before crossing, even if it’s inconvenient.
If you come to a crossing where the arms are down, stay behind the white line and be patient.
But what if the arms are down and there’s no train in sight? Many motorists are tempted to take the risk and go around them. Whitford says there’s a much safer option.
“At every set of tracks, there’s a blue sign,” he says. “It has an 800-phone number and a 7-digit number with a letter, which is the DOT number of that track.”
The phone number will go to the dispatcher who operates the line. When you tell the dispatcher the 7-digit number and letter, they will know exactly where you’re at and can tell you if there is a train coming or if it’s a malfunction.
This is also useful if you get equipment stuck on a track.
“If the train is within a mile and a half, they should be able to bring it to a full stop,” Whitford says.
Once you’ve notified the train operator, you can call a wrecker and work on getting off the tracks. Once the tracks are cleared, be sure to call the train’s operator back and let them know you are off the tracks.
For growers who have railroad crossings on their property, it’s important to keep an eye on the blue sign and make sure it’s legible. If you have one that isn’t, find the next sign you can read, call the number and let them know you have one needing replaced.
“There could come a time when you may be stuck, your kids may be stuck or your ag retailer may be stuck,” Whitford says. “It’s important to make that phone call now.”
