Farm safety general guidelines

The following information is intended as a general guide only to electrical safety on your farm.

What you should do

1. Ensure everyone on the farm knows to be careful when using electricity.
2. Have regular inspections and maintenance of your electrical installation carried out by a registered electrical contractor. You should contact an electrical contractor when in doubt about the safety of equipment or installation.
3. Check portable electric tools, particularly their flexible leads and plugs, for any defects before use.
4. Switch off or unplug equipment before starting any maintenance or repair job. Ensure all electrical equipment and fittings are designed for farm use.

What you should not do

1. Don't use domestic sockets, plugs, switches or other electrical equipment in farm buildings.
2. Don't continue to use faulty equipment or circuits - switch them off and call an electrical contractor.
3. Don't extend cables or flexes by twisting wires together and taping over.
4. Don't route wiring or trailing leads where they can be damaged, e.g. through corrugated sheeting.
5. Don't allow trailing leads to become a permanent part of an installation.
6. Don't connect any portable tools, dehorners or infrared lamps into or through lighting circuits.

Download the ESB Networks Farm Well Farm Safely Guide (PDF)