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DSO Electric Cooperative Inc. | 201 Dakota Drive | Solomon, KS 67480 | 1-800-376-3533

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On The Line

Tuesday | June 30, 2020
All News

On the Line
By Mike J. Olberding, Operations Manager

This article goes out to all the hard-working people that bring in a very valuable harvest every year.  So, this should touch about everyone in the community in some way.

I would like to talk about farming around utility poles, which can be very dangerous and sometimes even fatal.  Too often we hear of a farmer or grain elevator employee getting electrocuted from contacting a power line.  The tractors, spray rigs, combines, headers, oversize grain wagons, grain augers, planters, etc. have all gotten so big and tall in recent years.  Imagine looking out the side window of a 90-foot spray boom to make sure the booms won’t hit obstacles.  The depth perception can especially be a challenge when trying to get the boom folded up and out of the way of power poles and power lines.

DS&O electric averages around two public accidents a month.  That’s two too many.  Some are vehicle accidents, and the others are linked to farming in some way.  Every one of these accidents causes damage to either the vehicle, the equipment, or the power line.  In addition to line outages caused by such accidents, there are also personal injuries or even fatalities.

My recommendation once you purchase a new piece of equipment would be to give it a test run before you need to use it in the field.  Have someone watching the first time to see how much clearance it has in gate ways and under power lines.  Make sure when you put someone in a piece of equipment for the first time, they are well-trained, and they understand all the dangers that come with the equipment.  My experience with a lot of these accidents is it’s usually a person’s first time in the piece of equipment and they truly don’t understand everything about it.  I think the new GPS farm technology on today’s tractors, combines, and spray rigs will help keep these pieces of equipment away from the utility lines, but you still need to be aware of your surroundings and the size of the equipment you’re operating.

If you ever happen to have an accident involving a power line, here are a few safety tips to keep in mind:

  • If the vehicle/equipment you are in contacts a power line, then please make sure you stay in the cab and call for help.
  • If there is imminent risk of fire, then jump clear of the vehicle/equipment and land with both feet on the ground at the same time.  Do not allow any part of your body to touch the equipment and the ground at the same time.
  • Do not try to get back on a piece of equipment that has a power line on it.
  • Treat all electric lines and equipment as if they are energized; just because a wire is on the ground does not mean it is no longer hot.

Finally, if your farm or business has a clearance issue that you feel needs addressed, please contact the office.  We would like to keep our members as safe as possible.

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DSO Electric Cooperative, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives is a national network of electric cooperatives across 46 states that provides resources and leverages partnerships to help member cooperatives and their employees better engage and serve their members. By working together, Touchstone Energy cooperatives stand as a source of power and information to their 32 million member-owners every day.

©2020 DSO Electric Cooperative. All Rights Reserved.

  • About Us
    • Vision, Mission, & Core Values
    • Members Policies
    • Bylaws / Rules & Regulations
    • Cooperative History
    • Seven Cooperative Principles
    • Capital Credits
    • Rates
    • Forms
      • ACH Form
      • Apply for Service
      • Budget Billing Plan
      • Light Outage Form
      • Prepaid Agreement
      • Request for Donation Form
    • Employment
    • Contact Us
    • Directors and Consultants
  • My Home
    • Why Is My Bill So High?
    • Energy Savings
      • Energy Saving Tips
    • Office and Payment Locations
    • Payment Options
    • Transfer Service
  • My Business
    • Energy Saving Strategies
    • Sector Reports
    • Technology Applications
  • Outage Map
  • Products & Services
    • Co-op Connections Card
    • Air Source Heat Pumps
    • Geothermal Heat Pump
      • Heat Pump Rebates
      • Certificate of Installation
    • Marathon Water Heaters
      • Water Heater Energy Efficiency Program
      • Water Heater Rebate
    • Compact Fluorescent Light
      • CFL Color
    • TESCO
      • Surge Suppression - Information Request
  • Community
    • Economic Development
    • Youth Programs
      • Youth Tour Information Request Form
    • Kansas Country Living
    • DS&0 Scholarship Program
  • Renewables
    • BioMass
    • Geothermal Energy
    • Hydrogen
    • Hydropower
    • Solar Energy
    • Wind Energy
  • Safety
    • Education
    • Phone Scams
    • Safety
      • Electric Shock Safety
      • Energy Theft
      • Flood Safety
      • Generator Safety
      • Holiday Lighting Safety
      • Inside Safety
      • Outdoor Safety
      • Hot Weather Safety
  • 4KW Solar
  • Capital Credits
  • Wind Data
  • Contact Us