Farmer warning

Perth-based energy company SSEN is warning farmers to be aware of overheard lines.

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks’ (SSEN) annual ‘look out, look up’ safety campaign was launched last week.

In the past 12 months, SSEN has seen an increase in the number of incidents on farms and fields across its network, with 910 callouts compared to 865 in the year before.

These were the result of third-parties coming into contact with the distribution operator’s poles, overhead lines and cables, resulting in local electricity supplies being disrupted and potentially causing serious injury, or worse, to those involved.

Ian Crawley, SSEN’s network operational safety manager, said: “Always take the opportunity to risk assess before any work begins – it’s a small step to take that could make all the difference.

“Striking a pole or coming into contact with electrical equipment can have serious and potentially lethal consequences for those involved.”

Go to https://www.ssen. co.uk/safety/