New campaign urges SA farmers to exercise caution around powerlines

New Campaign Urges SA Farmers to Exercise Caution Around Powerlines

South Australia's electricity provider SA Power Networks has recently rolled out a new campaign that seeks to minimise the potential dangers posed by powerlines on farms. The initiative targets farm vehicle operators during high-risk planting periods, when contact with overhead infrastructure poses serious threats to both health and property.

According to the power distributor, each year, there are more than 20 reported incidents of vehicles contacting powerlines on farms across the region.

Why Farmers Overlook Everyday Hazards

SA Power Networks says the campaign coincides with onset of planting season, and centres around concept of 'inattentional blindness,' a psychological behaviour referring to gradual lack of awareness towards things people encounter daily. This tendency can compromise worker health, since routine familiarity with paddock layouts often causes operators to overlook fixed hazards like powerlines.

"We are making thousands of decisions basically on auto pilot, and we stop noticing things that actually could kill us," says Paul Roberts, Head of Corporate Affairs at SA Power Networks.

Reducing Risk on Farming Properties

Farm machinery operators should routinely check clearance heights before moving equipment near overhead lines, particularly during busy seasonal work. Employers and workers alike carry shared responsibility for maintaining safe distances, since a single lapse can result in fatal electrocution, fire, or long-term health consequences for those involved.

For further guidance on managing electrical hazards in agricultural settings, see our related coverage on SafeWork SA's advice for machinery operators near powerlines, Ergon Energy's caution around powerlines, and our earlier report on SA farmers urged to prioritise safety around powerlines.

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