EDMONTON - Two farm workers -- aged 62 and 54 -- were fatally electrocuted in south Edmonton after the grain auger they were moving touched an overhead power line.
The deaths are the fourth and fifth fatal electrocutions in the province this year related to negligence around overhead power lines, safety advocates say.
"The number one thing you have to ask yourself when working outside is, 'Where is the power line?'" said EPCOR Utilities spokesman Tim LeRiche.
EPCOR -- which builds, owns and operates electrical transmission and distribution networks -- was called to the rural area near Ellerslie Road and Meridian Street just before 4 a.m. Friday after a farmer called 911 to report the electrocutions.
On Thursday night, the victims were attempting to transport a grain auger -- over 10 meters in length and blue in colour -- when it came into contact with the power line.
Police say there is no foul play suspected and officers were notifying next of kin Friday afternoon.
EPCOR crews shut off power to the line when they arrived on scene.
"EPCOR's number one priority is the safety of the public and our staff," LeRiche said.
"We've teamed up with the Joint Utility Safety Team to increase awareness about power-line safety."
The Joint Utility Safety Team (JUST) campaign 'Where's the Line' targets 18 to 50 year old male farm equipment operators.
Lyndsay Thorlacius, spokesperson for JUST, said up until Friday, there had already been three fatal power line electrocutions in the province.
"People are focused on moving their farm equipment and not on stationary objects like power lines," said Thorlacius.
"The key is planning your work ahead of time before you get out there."
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