Stay Safe This Spring: Power Line Safety Tips for Saskatchewan Farmers

Spring in Saskatchewan means one thing for farmers—it's go time. Seeding, spraying, and prepping the land are all top priorities. But before tractors start rolling and equipment gets hauled out of the yard, it’s critical to take a moment for something just as important: power line safety.

With more than 160,000 kilometres of power lines in the province, it’s easy to overlook just how many are part of your daily routes, fields, and yard sites. And when large equipment like seeders, sprayers, and augers are involved, one wrong move can be life-threatening.

Why Power Line Safety Matters
Power lines are often so familiar they fade into the background. But contact with an overhead line can cause severe injury, costly damage, or even death. Every spring in Saskatchewan, there are dozens of reported incidents involving farm machinery coming into contact with electrical infrastructure.

Key Tips for Staying Safe This Season
1. Look Up and Plan Your Route
Before moving tall equipment, always look up. Know the height of your gear and the clearance of nearby lines. If you’re working near power lines, plan a safe route with ample clearance.

2. Know Your Equipment
Understand how high your seeder, sprayer booms, or augers go when raised. If you're unsure, measure them. Never assume they’ll fit under a line—measure, don’t guess.

3. Keep a Safe Distance
Always maintain a minimum of 3 metres (10 feet) from overhead power lines. That includes both your equipment and anything you're hauling.

4. Use a Spotter
When backing up, raising or unfolding equipment, have someone act as a second set of eyes to help you avoid power lines and poles. This is especially important in tight spaces or unfamiliar fields.

5. Emergency Protocols
If your machinery contacts a power line:

   *Stay in the cab unless there’s immediate danger like fire.
   *Call 911 and SaskPower (310-2220).
   *If you must exit due to fire, jump clear with both feet together, never touching the equipment and the ground at the same time. Shuffle away at least 10 metres (33 feet) without lifting your feet.

6. Teach Your Crew
Make sure everyone on your team—family, hired hands, and seasonal workers—knows the risks, understands procedures, and is trained in emergency response.

Safety is a Shared Responsibility
Farming in Saskatchewan is more than a job—it’s a legacy, a lifestyle, and a livelihood. Taking a few extra minutes to plan around power lines could save your life or the lives of those working beside you.

Stay alert. Stay safe. And have a productive, injury-free spring.