Release Date: May 9, 2006
Contact: PG&E News Department (415) 973-5930

Pacific Gas and Electric Company Offers Safety Tips for the Agriculture Community

 SAN FRANCISCO – May is traditionally the beginning of the growing season and therefore the start of the irrigation season. As orchards, vineyards and farms irrigate crops, Pacific Gas and Electric Company offers important tips to help protect agriculture employees from potential hazards in the field.

Electricity and natural gas play a major role in the continued growth of California’s agricultural industry – and both of these can be found on the farm and ranch. Electric power lines run along side roads, through orchards and fields to run irrigation pumps, operate equipment, and control greenhouse environments. Natural gas lines run underground carrying natural gas for food processing, heating and hot water.

Electricity and natural gas are safe and reliable, but occasionally people can forget where the distribution facilities are located. PG&E wants to make sure that agricultural workers avoid electric and natural gas hazards by practicing some simple safety rules.

• Remember the 10 foot rule: Keep all vehicles, equipment, tools and people at least 10 feet away from power lines.
• Look UP before you work. Wherever you are, always look overhead for power lines before you begin work.
• Pruning trees. Check for power lines that may run through or near trees. Branches may have grown too close to a power line, and you or your tools or ladder may come into contact with an overhead line.
• Irrigation pipes. Carry irrigation pipes parallel or even with the ground. Do not stand a pipe on its end because it could touch a power line.
• Driving farm equipment. When driving and making turns, make sure the tractor wheels and tools stay clear of power poles and guy wires.
• Tying down loads. Check for overhead lines before throwing ropes, cables or other tie-downs over a truck bed to secure a load. Park vehicles away from overhead power lines.
• Be alert. Watch for and tell co-workers about possible electric hazards.
• Ripping/Tilling/Cultivating. If ripping the soil for future planting, or trenching for an irrigation system, remember to “Call Before You Dig.” Call Underground Service Alert (USA) at 1-800-227-2600 at least two working days before working so the utilities can locate underground utility lines such as electric or gas lines. USA is a free notification service for anyone who is planning an underground excavation project, no matter how large or small.
• Burning waste. Don’t burn agricultural waste under power lines; heavy smoke can cause the lines to arc.

PG&E has free safety videos and brochures in Spanish and English that can be effective training tools to remind workers to be safe around overhead and underground utilities. For more information, please visit www.pge.com/agsafety or call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.

For additional safety tips and information about Pacific Gas and Electric Company, please visit our website at www.pge.com.