A farm worker was driving a ute in a paddock while taking their dog out for exercise and they drove up a slight hill, losing sight of the dog. Searching for the dog whilst driving meant they lost focus of where they were in the paddock and hit a power pole at approximately 15km/hr, causing the pole to break and fall onto the vehicle. The driver unfortunately then did the wrong thing and immediately exited the vehicle. They let the power company know so that power could be shut off and the area secured. Luckily, no one was injured.
Make sure everyone on farm knows what to do if there’s a downed wire, especially if you’re in a vehicle. Have a look at the tips below and share this with your team. Always stay in the vehicle, unless escape is essential, until the power is definitely off, in case wires are live. Always pay attention when driving, even at a slow speed. What distractions can you and your team manage or limit when driving? Consider all vehicles and machinery – especially tractors with extra height implements such as post rammers.
