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Generator Safety

A generator can keep a farm running through an outage, and it can also cause serious harm if used carelessly. This guide covers the general principles and sends you to official sources for details.

Why do generators need special care?

Generators combine engine exhaust, fuel, moving parts and electricity in one machine. Each carries its own risk. The exhaust contains carbon monoxide, a gas you cannot see or smell that can make people seriously ill. Fuel can ignite, and a wrongly connected generator can send power back into utility lines.

Safety agencies publish generator guidance, and the owner's manual is the first place to read.

Read the manual before an outage, not during one. The first day of a storm is a poor time to learn how your generator works.

What is the main rule on exhaust?

Run engines outdoors, in open air, away from doors, windows, vents and anything that could draw exhaust into a building or animal housing. Never run a generator in a barn, garage, shop, basement or enclosed space, even with doors open.

The guide on generator placement and ventilation goes into more detail and points to official sources for distances.

Remember that animal housing is also an enclosed space where exhaust can build up, so keep engines well away from barns and coops.

What about fuel?

Let the engine cool before refueling, store fuel in approved containers away from living areas and ignition sources, and follow the manual. Spilled fuel near a hot engine is a fire risk.

Keep fire extinguishers close and know how to use them. Ask your local fire department or NFPA for guidance on fuel storage.

Never add fuel to a running or hot engine, and keep fuel away from sparks, heaters and flames.

How should the generator connect to your wiring?

Never plug a generator into a wall outlet to power a building. This can send electricity into the utility lines and endanger line workers and neighbors. Connecting a generator to a building should be done through equipment installed by a licensed electrician, as the guide on backup generator wiring explains.

For small loads, use cords rated for the equipment and the location, plugged directly into the generator as the manual allows.

Ask your electric utility about their rules for generators and standby power, since they vary.

How do you reduce shock risk?

Keep generators dry and on a stable surface, and do not operate them in rain or snow unless the manual allows protective measures. Use protective devices suited to the setting, and inspect cords and connections each time.

Do not touch a generator or its cords with wet hands. If something sparks, smells hot or trips, shut down and have it checked.

Keep generators away from standing water and wet ground, and ask an electrician about proper protection.

What about maintenance and storage?

Follow the maker's schedule for oil, filters and fuel care. Test the unit under load regularly, so you find problems before an outage. Store it where it will stay clean, dry and secure from children.

Keep a copy of the manual with the generator, along with a note of what it can power. Overloading is a common cause of damage.

Run the generator on a schedule, as the manual suggests, so it will start when you need it.

What if someone feels unwell near a generator?

Headache, dizziness, nausea, weakness or confusion near a running engine can signal carbon monoxide exposure. Get to fresh air right away and call 911. Do not wait for symptoms to worsen, and do not go back inside until responders say it is safe.

Consider carbon monoxide alarms in buildings where people sleep or work. Ask the fire department about suitable devices and placement.

• A good plan lists what must stay powered, such as water pumps, ventilation, refrigeration and heating for young animals, and what can wait.
• It also names who runs the generator, how it will be fueled safely and where it will be placed.
• Write the plan down, review it with your crew each fall and after every outage.
• Include phone numbers for the utility, your electrician and 911, and keep a battery or crank radio handy for weather updates from the National Weather Service.
• Keep a battery-powered carbon monoxide alarm where people sleep
• Store fuel in approved containers away from the generator
• Let the engine cool before refueling
• Keep children and animals away from a running unit

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