​With a bumper South Australian harvest season kicking into gear, SA Power Networks is urging farmers not to add to an alarming tally of farm safety incidents in 2026.

​There have already been 28 safety incidents involving electricity poles and wires this year. The previous annual average is 20.

​The ever-increasing size and complexity of harvest machinery brings a greater risk of hitting poles if farmers don’t plan ahead, including ensuring any contractors or family members helping out are aware of the dangers. The risks are compounded by an extra busy harvest season anticipated in many regions this year.

​Port Lincoln Operations Supervisor Mark Davey said the changing nature of farming is a big factor in the rise in incidents.

​“I think autosteer and GPS is part of it but machinery’s getting wider and it’s getting closer than where they thought it used to be in terms of poles in the middle of the paddock,” he said.​ 

​“It could be also that they haven’t changed the dimensions when they’ve upgraded machinery so an extra foot or two on the machine and five laps into the paddock, you’re nowhere near where you used to be.”

​Experienced Tumby Bay farmer Taris Richardson said that noting the location of poles and wires before heading into the paddock every time, is key.

​“Whether it’s complacency or not, or whether you do something a million times or a thousand times, you’re probably going to do it wrong once,” Mr Richardson said.

​“Unfortunately, in farming if you do anything wrong, it can either cost a lot of money or it can be dangerous.”

​The Richardson family experienced both consequences of contact with wires earlier this year, when Mr Richardson’s son Oz inadvertently hit a powerline while folding the arms of a boom spray.

​Not only did it put Oz’s life in danger from the live wires, but the electricity also sparked a fire and explosions which destroyed the sprayer and posed a danger of spreading further, with authorities not able to fight the fire until the electricity could be turned off.

​“I was just explaining to my wife how Oz was going to be let onto the farm to get into it, which is a bit of a nervous time in a parent’s life,” Mr Richardson said.

​“We were sitting at the kitchen table and Oz rang and said (there was) a smell or flash or something on the righthand drive wheel. If he’d had contact with the boom spray and the ground at the same time he could have been electrocuted.”

​“I didn’t think it was going to happen to us, but it did. I would say (I was) more in shock - relief that Oz was alright - but it’s then interesting watching something that’s expensive and you really like, just burning in front of your eyes and you can’t do anything about it.”

​If an accident happens and machinery does make contact with a power pole or wire, it is important to know what to do to avoid a potentially deadly electric shock.

​It is preferable to stay in the vehicle and immediately contact SA Power Networks on 13 13 66  and wait until it is confirmed the power has been switched off.​ 

​However, if there is an immediate danger, jump clear of the vehicle with feet together and do not touch the vehicle and the ground at the same time. Then keep the feet together using shuffling steps until at least 10 metres clear, and call both SA Power Networks and 000.

​Download the free Look up and Live app to plan work around power infrastructure. There is also more information to help keep harvest season safe, available on our Farm Safety page.