An industry expert has issued a stern warning and given some illuminating advice on avoiding electrocutions on farms as the Government announced a new parliamentary inquiry into the statewide installation of underground powerlines. 

John Parry, regional safety specialist with Essential Energy, told the Heavy Vehicle Farmers' Forum at the Narromine Golf Club not to touch the vehicle you are in if you come into contact with power cables. 

"If escape is absolutely necessary, do not have contact with the machine if you are going step out or if you are going to stay in the vehicle. Parry said you should jump from the vehicle and "land with your feet together. When you jump, land with your feet together. Do not touch the vehicle, fall or allow your feet to step apart". 

"You must hop or jump with your feet together until you are at least 8 meters clear of the vehicle, powerlines, or anything else in contact with them. Once clear, do not return to the vehicle for any reason". 

"You only get one go at electricity, and that moment will depend on whether you go home or not." 

In NSW, farming accounts for one in five worker deaths, with electricity playing a big role in those fatalities. Much of this is because farming equipment like harvesting machines, irrigation systems, and heavy vehicles are all at perpetual risk of coming into contact with main electrical assets. 

Essential Energy also warns people to be aware that weather conditions can affect the network, including causing powerlines to sag in hot weather or sway in high wind.

To know the height of farm machinery in raised and lowered positions and always fully lower machinery before moving off. When operating high loads, always maintain the required clearance distances and understand your obligations for requesting a High Load Permit if your load exceeds 4.6m. 

When asked by an audience member what to do if they see a car accident when someone is still in the car and the power lines have been struck down - he said not to go within eight meters of the car and leave that to emergency services.

Image: Essential Energy. 

Contact between mobile plant equipment and energized overhead powerlines is one the biggest killers in the farming industry. 

Powerline inquiry welcomed by state's farmers  

The workshop and warning comes as the Government announced NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into undergrounding powerlines. 

NSW Farmers called it "a win for common sense and community safety". 

 Energy Transition Working Group chair Reg Kidd said too often landholders were being ignored by the big developers. 

"We support a robust inquiry, because it will find that there are places where undergrounding wires is a win-win for production and community amenity that has not been addressed to date," Kidd said. 

He said the Parliamentary Inquiry was needed to examine the real cost of powerlines. 

“Underground power lines might cost more now, but we would argue that if they save lives and improve firefighting efforts then that is money well spent.” 

 Kidd said balancing the cost of underground power lines against the potential risk and losses caused by overhead power lines was vital to getting a full understanding of the situation. 

"We need an urgent remedy for the planning mistakes of the past and said there must be greater consideration of the lifetime costs and benefits of undergrounding power lines from the outset of every project to protect communities." 

Use Look up and Live App 

John Parry gas advised that people use Essential Energy's Look Up and Live app to identify where the powerlines are located on their property. 

He also said Essential Energy could install overhead powerline markers on your property to help increase the visibility of powerlines.