FARMERS have been cautioned over the danger from power lines following a number of work-related incidents and a recent spree of dangerous cable thefts across Scotland.
Scottish Power Energy Networks has joined forces with Police Scotland and NFU Mutual to run a special seminar at this year's Royal Highland Show highlighting the risks from working near power lines and the worrying rise in metal theft, which often hits rural areas.
A 27-year-old farm worker was fatally electrocuted earlier this month as he tried to escape from his tipper truck after driving it into an 11,000-volt cable at Humbie Holdings Farm in Kirknewton, West Lothian.
The Romanian man died as he opened the truck's cab while the tipper was still in contact with the cable
Power line thefts are also on the increase, with around 35 incidents recorded since May.
Guy Jefferson, Distribution Network Director at SP Energy Networks, said: "Farmers and farm workers are very busy at this time of year, so it is important for them to be aware of the potential hazards that working in close proximity to overhead lines can present."
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