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Extension Cord Safety on Farms

Extension cords are meant for temporary use, yet on farms they often become permanent wiring. This guide covers how to treat them as the temporary tools they are.

Why are cords a common farm problem?

Cords are cheap, handy and everywhere, so they get used for jobs they were not made for. They are stepped on, run over, chewed, dragged through water and left plugged in for years. Damage to the outer jacket or the wires inside can lead to shock, overheating and fires.

Many electrical incidents involve a cord used past its life or in a way its label did not allow.

Keep a rule on your farm that damaged cords go to the trash the same day, not into a drawer for later.

How do you choose the right cord?

Read the label. It tells you whether the cord is for indoor or outdoor use and gives its capacity. Match the cord to the equipment's needs, and check the equipment manual. This guide does not list sizes or ratings, since the right choice depends on the load and length.

A cord that is too light for a heavy load will run warm. Look for markings from a recognized testing laboratory and replace any cord that lacks readable labels.

Ask your equipment dealer or the equipment manual about the cord the machine needs, and keep that cord with the machine.

What should you check before each use?

Look along the whole length for cuts, cracks, kinks, flattened spots, bare wire and melted places. Check plugs and connectors for bent prongs, discoloration and looseness. A cord that feels warm in use is telling you something.

Never use a cord with a missing ground prong, and never cut off or bend a prong to make a plug fit. Throw out damaged cords instead of taping them.

Teach younger workers to run a hand along a cord as they uncoil it, feeling for flat or soft spots that the eye misses.

What are the usage rules of thumb?

Uncoil cords fully when in use, because coiled cords trap heat. Do not run them through walls, under rugs, over nails or hooks, or through doors and windows. Keep them away from water, fuel and moving machinery.

Do not chain cords together, and do not plug a power strip into a cord to power more devices. Use heavy loads only on circuits and cords suited for them.

Pull on the plug and not the cord when unplugging, since pulling on the cord loosens the connections inside.

What about animals and weather?

Livestock and rodents chew cords, and heat, cold and sunlight make them brittle. Route cords where animals cannot reach, and use protective covers only as the product directions allow. Bring cords inside after use whenever possible.

After a storm or a flood, inspect cords before reuse. Moisture inside a cord can cause hidden damage.

If a cord must cross a path, ask an electrician about safe protection options, and do not use nails or staples.

How should you store cords?

Wipe them clean, coil loosely and hang them off the ground in a dry place. Avoid sharp bends and tight wraps that damage the inside wires. Keep them away from chemicals and fuel.

Label cords that are designated for heavy equipment so they do not get used for something smaller, and discard cords that you cannot identify.

When should a temporary cord become permanent wiring?

If you use a cord every day for the same job, that is a sign that the building needs a permanent outlet. Ask an electrician to install one. Running cords as a permanent solution is a known fire hazard and is often against code.

Make a list of the places where you rely on cords every day and bring it to your electrician. They may suggest a few targeted upgrades that remove most of the risk.

• A cord that gets warm, a plug that smells hot, flickering equipment, a tingle from a tool, and breakers that trip when you plug in are all signs to unplug and inspect.
• Do not keep using it to finish the job.
• Mark the cord as bad with tape and remove it from service so nobody else picks it up.
• Replace it with one rated for the equipment, and let the whole crew know why.
• Keep cords away from heaters, engines and hot surfaces
• Replace cords after any crushing, such as a vehicle driving over them

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