Farm equipment is going to hit the field soon in Manitoba. Manitoba Hydro wants to make sure that’s the only thing the machinery is hitting.
Manitoba farm equipment made 134 contacts with electrical infrastructure last year, the Crown corporation said in an April release. No one was hurt seriously in those incidents, but a few led to significant damage. For example, Manitoba Hydro noted, one strike last spring led to the loss of a tower on the Bipole 1 High Voltage Direct Current transmission line in the Interlake.
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WHY IT MATTERS: Farm equipment contact with electrical infrastructure can cause electrocution, power outages and significant infrastructure damage. Manitoba Hydro’s Bipole 1 transmission line serves a large portion of the province.
Along with the risk of injury or electrocution, contact with electrical infrastructure can cause power outages, the corporation warned.
In a news release, they reminded farmers that:
- Producers should apply online for a farm clearance permit before moving equipment on a public road if that equipment is over 4.8 metres (15 feet and nine inches) tall.
- They should ensure a distance of at least three metres (10 feet) from overhead lines when moving equipment under power lines.
- If equipment does make contact with a power line, stay in the equipment or vehicle and call 911 immediately.
