Narrator: You've Got a Lot on the Line
A Farm Safety Video from SaskPower.
Hey, how’s it going. My name's Mike.
I'm here for SaskPower
but actually
I wear a couple of hats.
This one, because I farm three sections just out of town.
And this one. I've been a lineman in rural Saskatchewan for a long time now.
So let me tell you why I'm here.
I want to show you how to stay safe around overhead power lines.
Let me introduce you to a family that's going to help me out.
These are the Millers.
That's George, his wife Donna,
and their kids,
Sam and Sarah.
They've been farming for a long time
so they know a thing or two about safety.
Unfortunately on this day
one of them is about to make a potentially deadly mistake.
There goes Sam, heading out to the field.
He learned to drive a tractor pretty young,
so he thinks he knows his way around the farm. Watch what can happen.
[Ominous music] Sarah: Sam! Sam! Sam!
George: Stop, Sam! Stop! [Sound of tractor coming into contact with power line]
Mike: That's how fast it can happen.
In the blink of an eye, something you've done a hundred times before can change your life forever.
Luckily, Sam's mom and dad knew exactly what to do.
[Electricity buzzing sound]
Mike: His mom saw it happen from the house and called 9-1-1. And dad:
George: Sam! Stay in the tractor! Don't move!
Mike: He knew the safest thing was for Sam to stay put.
He also knew to keep everybody away.
Because in a situation like this
the ground can be electrified.
On this particular day
Sam was lucky.
He was scared,
but not hurt.
But what if the tractor had caught fire?
Let's take a look.
Stay calm. Stay seated and open the door fully.
Look up and around to make sure no wires are in the way.
Stand on the doorframe,
cross your arms and put your feet together.
Then jump as far as possible,
and land with your feet together.
Never touch the ground and the tractor at the same time.
That can be deadly
because electricity can flow through you to the ground.
Now, keeping your arms crossed and your feet together, hop quickly away, at least 10 metres
from the scene.
Slowly slide your feet apart.
If you feel tingling, slide your feet back together and hop further away, until you're safe.
OK, let's go back to the Millers.
Good thing for Sam:
there was no fire.
He stayed safe in the tractor until SaskPower arrived.
For the Millers,
the worst thing that happened that day was some costly damage to their equipment.
Always remember:
the best way to stay safe is to avoid contact with power lines in the first place.
If you live or work on a farm,
keep these safety rules top of mind:
First, if you're moving equipment,
plan your route in advance. Locate all overhead power lines, and stay clear.
Always lower equipment before moving it.
Large implements,
like high clearance sprayers,
air seeders
and grain augers are often the greatest risk.
Never trim trees near power lines
or attempt to remove broken branches from lines.
Be extra careful when carrying ladders and other tall equipment.
Never fly kites or play near power lines.
Electricity can jump from lines
to nearby structures,
like grain bins,quonsets,
or hay stacks.
So keep them at least 50 feet away from power lines at all times.
If you see a fallen line,
stay well back.
Even if no sparks are visible,
it could still be live and dangerous.
Call 9-1-1
or SaskPower immediately.
And finally, talk with your family
or anyone else working on your farm. Make sure they know how to avoid overhead power lines,
and what to do if an accident occurs.
Everyone on your farm should know
that safety
is your number one priority.
After all,
the most important part of the family farm
is the family.
[outro]