SaskPower is once again reminding farmers to "Look up and Live" this seeding season.

Things are underway for many parts of the province, leading SaskPower to call for all producers, farmers, and large equipment operators to stay safe this spring.

According to their release, in 2021, SaskPower saw 288 farm-related power line incidents in Saskatchewan, and one tragic fatality. In 2020, SaskPower reported 306 power line incidents involving farm equipment.

“We understand that as the weather gets warmer, there is a push to get seed in the ground as quickly as possible - and sometimes, this rush can lead to a collision involving a power line or a power pole,” said Nidal Dabghi, Director of Safety at SaskPower. “Safety is our priority, and it’s our goal to have everyone working in the fields this farming season come home safe, and without incident.”

Some safety tips to note when operating large machinery include lowering or retracting equipment prior to transport, planning your route ahead using the Look Up and Live app, using a spotter when working around power lines, and taking regular breaks to avoid fatigue. They also note that should a line contact or collision with a power pole occur, call the SaskPower Outage Centre at 310-2220, or 911 if it’s an emergency.

If this does occur you should remain in your vehicle, provided it’s safe to do so, and if not, follow these steps:

• Make sure no wires are in your way
• Stand in doorway, cross arms, put feet together
• Jump as far as possible, land with feet together
• Do not touch the vehicle
• Keep arms crossed, feet together, and HOP at least 10 metres to safety

More information can be found at saskpower.com/lookupandlive.