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Downed Power Line Safety

A fallen line can look harmless and still carry deadly current. On farms, lines come down in storms, with equipment contact and with falling trees. The safe response is distance and a phone call.

Why are downed lines so dangerous?

A line on the ground may still be energized. It can shock through direct contact, through contact with objects touching it and through the ground itself. Wet grass, puddles, fences, gates, vehicles and equipment can all carry current. A line may move, spark or be re-energized automatically after a brief outage.

There is no way to judge by looking whether a line is live. Do not rely on silence, a lack of sparks or a line that seems dead. Equipment operators should know that raising anything tall, including grain augers and sprayer booms, near lines is a leading way people are hurt, so make a habit of looking up every time before moving.

What should you do when you see one?

Stay far away, keep others away and call 911 and your electric utility. Do not drive over lines, do not move them, and do not try to push them with sticks, tools or equipment. Stay well back from anything touching them, such as fences, trees or machinery. The utility, not you, decides when it is safe.

Warn neighbors and passersby. Keep children and animals away. Keep a lookout for other lines that may be down nearby. If you are unsure about any detail, the safe default is distance, a call to 911 and a call to the utility, and then waiting for trained people to arrive.

Why should you treat everything touching the line as live?

Metal fences, wet trees, gates and irrigation pipes can carry current far from the line itself. Equipment that has touched a line can be energized. Walking toward a fallen line or touching a machine in contact with one can be deadly. Give the whole area a wide berth, and stay out until responders say it is clear.

Think about animals, too. Livestock near a downed line can be hurt by current in the ground or in fences. Keep people away, and let the utility and responders tell you when it is safe to move animals.

• Do not touch the line or anything touching it
• Do not walk or drive near it
• Do not touch a person or animal in contact with it
• Do not use water on fires near it
• Do not try to remove debris from lines
• Call 911 and the utility from a safe distance

What if a line falls on equipment you are in?

This is an emergency, and the right actions depend on circumstances that official sources should explain. Do not rely on memory or a guess. Ask your electric utility, OSHA and a recognized safety trainer to teach what to do before it happens, and share that guidance with everyone who operates equipment on your farm. Tell workers to call 911 and wait for the utility whenever they can, and to follow the official guidance they were taught.

Never run toward someone in contact with a line. Wait for trained responders and the utility.

How do you prevent contact with overhead lines?

Know where lines run across your land before the season starts. Make a simple map and share it with everyone who operates tall equipment, such as augers, sprayers, loaders, irrigation pipe and grain handling gear. Ask your utility about clearances and about moving lines if they cross work areas. Do not assume distances from memory, because they depend on voltage and rules that differ by place.

Look up before raising anything. Use a spotter. Keep a plan for tree trimming near lines, which should be done by qualified workers arranged through the utility.

What about underground lines?

Buried lines can be hit when digging, trenching or installing posts and tile. Before you dig, contact your local utility locating service to have lines marked. Ask your utility or state one-call service how to request markings, since rules and wait times vary by state.

After the line is cleared, ask the utility to inspect your service and meter before you restore power to buildings that were affected, and have an electrician look at any equipment that may have been damaged.

How do you prepare the crew?

Talk about lines at the start of the season and before storms. Put the utility's emergency number and 911 where everyone can see them. Include family members, teenagers and seasonal workers. Ask your utility, Extension office or OSHA for training materials and take classes from recognized providers.

Keep your utility's emergency number saved in every phone on the farm and written near the main panel, since you may need it in poor light and under stress.

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