Listen: AgriFocus – Be aware of damaged power lines/live wires after Storm Darragh

As nationwide efforts continue to restore power to homes, farms and businesses in the aftermath of Storm Darragh farmers have been urged to be aware of the dangers of damaged power lines and fallen live wires.

In this episode of the AgriFocus podcast, Michael Murray, public safety manager at ESB Networks, joins Francess McDonnell to highlight why farmers and agri-contractors should “not take chances” when it comes to storm damaged power lines or other electrical equipment.

According to Murray there were thousands of customers without power in the immediate aftermath of Storm Darragh, particularly in the most affected areas are in the North West, Midlands and South East, but he expects power to be fully restored to all customers by the end of this week.

Murray said one of the biggest dangers to farming communities following a storm is “falling wires”.

“There may be a pump house up in the back field that that maybe we didn’t know about or is at the very end of the line but any of those kind of isolated locations somewhere where there’s heavy forestry or there’s a lot of timber and people can’t get into access it – but maybe just the farmer knows that there’s something up there.

“Approaching those fallen wires assume they’re live – that is the safest thing for someone to do because those wires can still be live until we’ve come out and checked to make sure that they’re not – that they’re dead.

“If a farmer checks and assumes they’re live, that’s the safest option and then report it back into us -that’s the best course of action, stay clear, stay away from them and inform us,” Murray said.

The fortnightly AgriFocus podcast series takes a closer look at some of the key issues that directly impact on farmers, rural communities and the agri-sector.