Warning for cotton growers

As cotton picking gets underway in the northern parts of NSW, Essential Energy’s manager community relations Northern, David Crough, urges pickers to be mindful.

“We recommend completing a risk assessment for each paddock and piece of machinery prior to starting work to reduce the likelihood of vehicles and harvest equipment contacting powerlines,’’ he said.

“We appreciate that growers are working to tight harvest schedules, however, taking simple steps to identify overhead and underground powerlines can help to reduce the risk of electrical incidents.’’

Mr Crough recommends using safety observers to guide operators and fully lowering equipment before moving high machinery near or under powerlines.

“Machinery higher than 4.6 metres is at greater risk of encroaching minimum powerline approach distances as electricity can arc across open spaces if you get too close.

“Powerlines brought down by high machinery not only threaten the personal safety of operators, but also compromise the safety of other workers and can cause inconvenience to the community through unnecessary power supply interruptions.”

He said marking powerlines at ground level with signage could improve visibility for machinery operators while Essential Energy could install aerial line markers for a small cost.

“Remember to carefully monitor weather conditions and powerline heights as lines can sway in winds, sag in the heat, be difficult to see at dawn and dusk, or have reduced clearances due to storm damage,” he said.