Northwest Iowa Power Cooperative (NIPCO) is a wholesale electric generation and transmission power cooperative serving seven electric distribution cooperatives in western Iowa, Together, the NIPCO family of electric cooperatives power nearly 33,000 rural, western Iowa member-consumers in ten counties, ensuring the safe and reliable delivery of power and keeping western Iowa powering forward.
NIPCO, in partnership with its member co-ops, developed the “Safe Fields. Powerful Yields.” safety campaign for our area agricultural producers as we often receive an uptick of powerline contacts reported during spring planting and fall harvest. While contact with equipment and a powerline can cause costly outages and repair downtime, our number one concern is for equipment operators and their safety.
Safe Fields. Powerful Yields. reminds agricultural producers to be aware of powerlines in and around their equipment, fields, and other locations associated with their operations. Our campaign kit includes posters, table tents, and window clings communicating valuable life-saving information on what to do and who to call when seconds count.
If your equipment makes contact with an energized or downed power line, contact 9-1-1 immediately and remain inside the equipment until the power is de-energized.
In case of smoke or fire, exit the cab by making a solid jump out of the cab (without touching it), and hop away to safety.
If you make contact with a power line, always assume it is energized. Downed lines can energize the ground around it up to 35 feet away.
Use a spotter and deploy flags to maintain safe distances from power lines and other electrical equipment when working in the field.
Maintain a ten-foot clearance around all utility equipment in all directions.
Consider equipment and cargo extensions of your vehicle. Lumber, hay, tree limbs, irrigation pipes, augers, and even bulk materials can also conduct electricity.
If you would like to receive a Safe Fields. Powerful Yields. farm safety awareness kit containing this information in an easy-to-refence poster, table tent, and window cling, visit NIPCO’s safety education page at www.nipco.coop/safety-education and scroll down to the Safe Fields. Powerful Yields. section or call our co-op office directly.
Planting seeds of safety when working around power lines can be the difference between safe harvests and one interrupted by a costly contact with energized power lines.
It's more than a field. It's a life.