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N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Farmers focus on the ground when sowing and harvesting, but looking up is just as important. This harvest season, Northern Plains and Dakota Valley Electric Cooperatives are reminding the public to Look Up and Live to avoid accidents between farm machinery and power lines.

In each year for the past three years, Northern Plains and Dakota Valley Electric Cooperatives have seen an increase in accidents between farm equipment and power poles. In 2012 alone, Northern Plains and Dakota Valley Electric reported 105 accidents including one contact and one fatality.

“With the rush of plating and harvest seasons, I think our members forget just how dangerous these accidents can be,” said Craig Rysavy, Manager of Operations. “In a commitment to their safety, we’re working raise awareness regarding power lines and what to do if someone hits one.”

Eighty-one accidents were reported so far this year, thankfully with no injuries. In many cases, farmers said they didn’t notice the poles because they were distracted with reading the newspaper or playing games on their Smartphone.

“Tangling with 7,200 volts can have serious and even fatal consequences,” Rysavy said. “Nothing is worth that risk.”

For more information on power line safety, call Northern Plains Electric at 1-800-882-2500, Dakota Valley Electric at 1-800-342-4671 or visit SafeElectricity.org.

WHAT TO DO: (break out box)

• If equipment does gets hung up on a power line, don’t get off of the machine unless of fire or other immediate danger. If a person touches the ground and the equipment at the same time, he or she can become a deadly channel for electricity. If you must get off the equipment:
• Jump clear of the vehicle and, keeping your feet close together, hop away.
• Call your electric cooperative
• Don’t touch any machine connected to a power line and keep others away until a lineman disconnects the line.