Manager Articles

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

OCTOBER 2025

Stay safe this harvest season

As harvest season gets underway, we know many of our members are logging long hours in the fields, moving large equipment from farm to farm and field to field. It’s a busy time, and we understand the urgency of bringing in the crops while the weather holds. But we also want to remind our farming community to slow down just long enough to take stock of your surroundings — especially when it comes to overhead power lines.
Each year, we respond to incidents in which farm equipment has become tangled 
in, or even completely taken down, power lines. These situations are more than just inconvenient — they’re dangerous. They pose serious risks to the equipment operator, the traveling public, and our lineworkers.
Large machinery like grain carts, combines, and augers can easily reach the height of power lines. If you're not paying attention, it's surprisingly easy to snag a line, knock down a pole, or cause lines to sag into roadways or fields. That creates a hazard not only for yourself, but for others who may unknowingly come into contact with energized lines.
For our linemen, these incidents create complex and high-risk situations. Working around damaged equipment and energized lines in unpredictable conditions — often 
at night or in poor weather — requires extreme caution and skill. We train for it, but prevention is always safer than response.
There’s also the issue of reliability. When a power line is taken down during harvest, it can disrupt electric service for members across the area. Restoring that power takes time, including replacing poles, restringing lines, and making the site safe again for everyone involved. That’s time we’d rather spend strengthening our system and serving you in other ways.
Drivers, please be alert. Harvest equipment often travels on public roads at slower speeds than regular traffic. Take extra care when passing, following, or approaching large farm equipment. A few extra seconds of caution can prevent accidents and keep everyone safe.
Your safety — and the safety of those around you — is our top priority. That’s why we’re hosting a First Responder Power Line Safety Training this fall, so local emergency crews are well-equipped to safely respond to incidents involving electrical equipment. These individuals are often first on the scene, and we want to ensure they’re trained in how to protect themselves and others.
As always, if you have any concerns about equipment height or line clearance, please give us a call before harvest begins. We’ll be glad to help you identify hazards and plan a safe route.
And if the unthinkable happens — if you or someone you know comes into contact with a power line during harvest — knowing what to do next can save a life. Turn the page for tips on what to do in an emergency involving power lines.
Here’s to a safe and successful harvest season.