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Annual Electrical Safety Checklist

Once a year, take a deliberate look at everything electrical on your farm. A written checklist makes the review consistent, helps you track repairs and shows what to hand off to an electrician.

Why do an annual review?

Electrical systems age quietly. Moisture, dust, rodents, vibration and changes in use all wear on wiring and equipment. A yearly review catches problems before they become fires or injuries and gives you a record to build on.

Choose a regular time, such as before the busiest season, and set aside real time for it. Rushing leads to missed items.

Share the finished checklist with everyone who works on the farm, and ask them to add anything you missed. The best checklists grow from the experience of the whole team. Make a copy of the checklist for each building or area, so that different people can work through different parts at the same time. Consider asking a neighbor or a farm safety volunteer to walk through with you, since a fresh set of eyes notices things you have stopped seeing.

What should the walk-through include?

Work from building to building, with a notebook or phone. Look with your eyes, and do not open panels or touch damaged parts. Note anything that needs a qualified electrician.

Add a few seasonal items. Before winter, check tank heaters, heat lamps and cords. Before summer, check fans, ventilation controls and surge protection. Before harvest, check dryers, augers, extension cords and lighting. After storm season, check roofs, solar arrays and service entrances.

Set a reminder for next year before you put the checklist away, and put the electrician's visit on the calendar.

• Cords, plugs and outlets: cracks, heat marks, loose fits
• Extension cords used as permanent wiring
• Panels: covers closed, labels current, clear space in front
• Motors and fans: dust, guards, heat, noise
• Heaters: placement, cords, clearance from bedding
• Lighting: damaged fixtures, flicker, covers
• Wet areas: protection and signs of moisture in electrical parts
• Rodent damage and nesting near wiring

What about equipment and systems?

Review grain dryers, ventilation, milking and water systems, welders, compressors and tank heaters. Check manuals for inspection points. Look at solar, batteries and generators with their own instructions in hand. Confirm that surge protection devices and lightning protection are in place and inspected as advised. Do not run tests you are not trained for.

Make a list of equipment that has been repaired often or that is nearing the end of its life.

What should a professional check?

Schedule a licensed electrician to inspect the system periodically. Ask about panels, grounding, connections, wiring condition and anything on your list. Ask whether thermal inspection is appropriate. Requirements and recommendations vary by place and equipment, so confirm what applies with your electrician and local officials.

Bring your notes and ask for a written summary of what they found and what they recommend.

What about people and procedures?

Review lockout practices, who is allowed to do what, and training records. Check that new workers have been shown the shutoffs. Confirm emergency numbers, your posted address and the fire plan. Look at fire extinguishers and ask your fire department about service and training. Update your farm map with the locations of disconnects and overhead lines.

Update first aid supplies and make sure people have current first aid and CPR training.

How do you handle what you find?

Sort findings into three groups: things to fix today, things to schedule with a professional, and things to watch. Take any unsafe equipment out of service until it is repaired. Write dates and names beside each item. Keep the checklist with your equipment records so next year starts with last year's results.

If anything seems urgent, such as burning smells, sparks or hot panels, shut it down and call an electrician. For fire or shock, call 911.

How can you improve the checklist each year?

After each review, adjust the list. Add items for new equipment and remove those that no longer apply. Ask workers what they noticed. Ask your Extension office or insurer if they have a template you can adapt. A checklist that fits your farm is more useful than a generic one.

Photograph panel labels and the main disconnect each year, and keep the images with the checklist. They help an electrician and a responder understand your layout.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.