Are your agricultural electrical installations ready for the winter?
Posted on 14th November 2022
Electric farm equipment and installations are essential in a modern agricultural environment. They make so many things easier, faster and simpler and help to keep people safe.
With winter just around the corner, have you made sure all your electrical equipment and installations are in good condition after a busy summer?
The demands of agricultural work can take their toll. Over time, the combination of inside and outside elements in agricultural settings can lead to water exposure, grounding risks for electrical equipment, and even exposed wiring. All of this puts people and livestock at risk and increases the possibility of an electrical fire. That’s why regular electrical inspections, maintenance and repair are important.
Electrical risks in agriculture
Electrical injuries can include shocks, burns and muscle spasms. Good electrical maintenance protects farmers, property, employees and visitors. There are also strict health and safety standards for agricultural environments.
The Health and Safety Executive says that anyone who owns or controls an agricultural facility must maintain safe standards of operation. If these standards aren’t met, insurance could be invalidated.
This includes:
protecting agricultural wiring systems with RCDs (residual current devices).
using agricultural tools operated at reduced voltage from a safety isolating transformer
making sure wiring systems have an ingress protection rating of IP44, which means that they’re away from splashing water, and insulation can withstand around 500 volts for a period of at least one minute.
Your agricultural maintenance plan
Electrical risks can range from animal waste creating flammable vapours through to high humidity in milking parlours. Moisture levels and livestock can cause physical damage to light fixtures, wiring, and equipment parts.
Apart from keeping people, property and livestock safe, regular electrical maintenance can also help to save you money by avoiding costly breakdowns and disputes with insurance companies.
Regular electrical inspections should be included in your agricultural maintenance plan. A qualified electrician can test farm equipment and wiring and give advice on anything that might need to be repaired or replaced. Inspections can include:
appliance and component testing and repair
security lighting installations
wiring
periodic condition reports
maintenance of electric farm equipment.
Speak to the team at MSE about regular testing, maintenance and repair of your agricultural electrical installations.
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