Take an Extra Second To Look Up

FANNIN ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE urges everyone working in agriculture to be alert to the dangers of working near overhead power lines, poles and other electrical equipment.

Before you think an accident could never happen to you, consider electrical accident survivor Cody Conrady’s experience. He shares what happened to him in an effort to help increase power line awareness.

It was Conrady’s next-to-last day as an assistant manager for a fertilizer company. They were understaffed that day, and Conrady jumped in a truck to get ahead of a sprayer. Once the sprayer was in position, he hopped out to fill the tank with fertilizer. What happened next changed everything.

What he and his co-worker inside the cab were unaware of was that the sprayer boom had either made contact with or gotten too close to a power line. More than 7,000 volts of electricity traveled through the boom and electrified the equipment and ground where Conrady was standing. The unyielding stray voltage traveled through Conrady’s body as part of its path to the ground.

In the minutes and hours that followed, he was brought back to life, rushed to a local hospital and then transferred via helicopter to a Level 1 trauma center. That was the start of a very long and arduous road to recovery that included many surgeries, rehabilitation and prosthetic fittings.

When working near power lines, “pay attention a little more,” Conrady advises. “Keep an eye on your surroundings. Just take an extra second to look at things, to see how your situation is going to unfold.”

If your machinery or vehicle comes into contact with a power line, do not get out of the cab because you could be electrocuted. Instead, stay where you are and call 911.

If it’s not safe to stay in the cab due to fire or smoke, make a solid, clean jump with both feet landing at the same time. Shuffle away with feet together as far as you can.

If you come across an accident near a downed power line, alert individuals (from at least 50 feet away) to stay in the vehicle as long as there is no imminent danger. Call 911 and Fannin EC and do not approach the scene.

Have a daily meeting with staff to go over possible hazards. Map out and review routes where equipment will be moved and ensure it will clear power lines.

When working around power lines, always use a spotter who has a broader vantage point than the person in the cab. Take time for safety, including electrical safety. It could save your life or the lives of others.