Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) Networks has warned farmers about the dangers of working near overhead power lines and poles as national Farm Safety Week gets underway today, 16 July.

National Farm Safety Week aims to remind farmers of the dangers around the farm and the dangers of working close to overhead power lines.

Kevin McDowell, Head of Health, Safety and Environment at NIE Networks, said every year members of the agricultural community or their contractors are injured or killed due to accidental contact with overhead power lines.

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"Farm Safety Week is a good opportunity to remind farmers that when cutting hedgerows, trimming trees, spraying crops or cutting silage, they make themselves aware of where there are electricity poles or overhead power lines," he said.

"This message is particularly important at this time of year with farmers taking advantage of the good weather to work on the farm. We are urging all agricultural workers to ‘look up, look out' and to ensure that when operating heavy machinery they stay at least five metres from overhead power lines."

(LM)