Agricultural Harvesters Urged To "Think Safety" And Avoid Overhead Electric Lines

BAY CITY, Mich., Oct. 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- With sugar beet and other harvests underway in Michigan's Thumb and throughout the state, Consumers Energy reminds agricultural workers to look up when using agricultural equipment near overhead electric lines.

"We know that sugar beet, field corn and soy bean harvesters work from before dawn until after sunset," said Garrick Rochow, vice president of energy delivery for Consumers Energy. "We want to help ensure their safety by reminding them to remain vigilant at all times about the location of overhead electric lines.  Let's all 'think safety' first for a safe and productive harvest season." 

In the event a vehicle does contact electric lines, Consumers Energy offers these important safety tips:

• Remain in the vehicle until help arrives, if it is safe to do so.
• If you must exit the vehicle, avoid touching the ground and vehicle at the same time to help avoid an electric shock.
• Call 911 or Consumers Energy immediately at 1-800-477-5050.
• Do not attempt to remove any electric lines by yourself – wait for professional help to assist.

Additional safety resources to help keep agricultural workers and contractors safe can be found by accessing www.consumersenergy.com/worksafe. This link contains free materials such as DVDs and workbooks that can be downloaded or requested to assist with sharing important electric and  natural gas safety information with workers.  

Consumers Energy, Michigan's largest utility, is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), providing natural gas and electricity to 6.6 million of the state's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

For more information about Consumers Energy, visit us at www.consumersenergy.com or join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/consumersenergymichigan.

SOURCE Consumers Energy