Farmers at Emerald Expo forum alerted to electrical risks

Six farmers lost their lives by coming into contact with electricity since the year 2000, according to the ESB, and there have been many hundreds of incidents where livestock perished, or farmers had lucky escapes when trying to rescue stricken animals.

“Working near overhead power lines and having an unsafe or inadequately protected electrical installation are the main causes of electrical accidents on farms,” said ESB Networks Public Safety Manager Arthur Byrne, during the Emerald Expo farm safety forum at Punchestown, Co Kildare.

He said “Looking back over the decades, starting in the 30s, I can tell you that the average number of deaths from electrocution is five, in recent years that has come down very significantly to about two, but it needs to be zero.”