OVER two and a half thousand residents in north Fermanagh have been without electricity in recent weeks due to slurry hitting overhead lines.
Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) has issued a strong safety warning to farmers and agricultural contractors after two serious incidences of slurry hitting overhead line cutting electricity supplies.
Over 2,700 customers have been affected in the Ederney, Kesh and Irvinestown areas within the last few weeks.
Local UUP councillor Harold Andrews admitted he was surprised when he heard that electricity supplies had been disrupted, but understood how it could have happened.
“Those sludgigators have very powerful pumps on the slurry tank which can blow the slurry 100 metres across the ground. The problem is if you point it up too high you’re going to hit the electrical wires.
“Strictly speaking I’m not sure you’re supposed to use them for environment reasons, but are people are stuck with slurry and have to find some way of getting rid of it.”
Mr Andrews urged care and caution when putting slurry out to prevent further damage to the electricity lines in Fermanagh.
Fiona McClintock, NIE customer relations manager for the Fermanagh area stressed the need for caution amongst farmers as spring approaches and work increases.
“Any contact with the electricity network can be prevented if farmers and contractors take the surrounding electricity network into consideration when planning their work.
“We appreciate that this is a busy time of year for farmers but would ask that they exercise vigilance when working around overhead lines, whether using tipping machinery or spreading slurry.
“Slurry should no longer be sprayed but there appears to be some areas where farmers continue to jet slurry into the fields, hitting and damaging the electricity network in the process.
“We would also ask farmers to be aware of stay wires, which may be obscured by vegetation or long grass as contact with these can damage both the electricity network and the farm machinery.
“Any contact or near contact with the electricity network can have had potentially fatal consequences.
“Our message is clear – look up, look out and stay well away from overhead lines and electricity equipment.”
For more advice about working safely near electricity equipment visit nie.co.uk and click on ‘Safety’.
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