Farmers have been urged to look out and look up when working near overhead power lines and pylons.
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has issued a safety reminder to farmers and contractors ahead of the busy spring and summer season.
The operator reported more than 780 incidents on agricultural land across its infrastructure last year, where third-parties came into contact with poles, overhead lines and cables.
“The ‘Look out, Look up!’ message encourages anyone working in the field to take stock of their surroundings and the overhead lines that may run across or into the land, as our rural landscape changes by the season,” said the company’s head of safety, health and environment, Richard Gough.
He urged all farmers to assess risk and be aware of the height of machinery that will be used near lines, and to remember that electricity can jump if an object comes near enough to it.
Farmers were also told to stay in the cab of their vehicle and to avoid touching anything metal within it, if their vehicle comes into contact with an overhead line or cable. In these instances, the emergency number to contact is 105.
SSEN said if the situation was too dangerous to stay put, the farmer should leap out of the vehicle as high and as far as possible to avoid touching any part of the machinery or electricity network.
“Always take the opportunity to risk assess before any work begins; striking a pole or coming into contact with electrical equipment can have serious and potentially lethal consequences,” said Mr Gough.