Farm Fire Prevention, The Essential Electrical Safety Checklist
- Simon Touchette
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
| Farm Fire Prevention
A fire in an agricultural building often starts fast, and electricity is one of the most common causes. The good news is that a few simple, regular checks can drastically reduce the risk.
Here’s a clear checklist you can use in a dairy barn, swine barn, poultry barn, warehouse, electrical room, or workshop.
| The 7 warning signs to take seriously (immediately)
If you notice even one of these, stop and investigate:
Smell of burning plastic or a “hot” odor
A breaker that trips often, or with no obvious reason
Breakers, outlets, switches, extension cords that feel warm/hot to the touch
Black marks, yellowing, warped plastic on an outlet or electrical box
Unusual noises (crackling, buzzing, humming) near a panel or motor
Flickering lights or power fluctuations
A damaged, pinched, or chewed cable
| Weekly checklist (10 minutes)
Do a quick walk-through of your buildings, prioritizing dusty or damp areas.
✅ Electrical panels
Nothing stored in front, access kept clear
Doors closed, enclosure intact
Make sure there is no visible moisture and no obvious corrosion
✅ Outlets and boxes
No loose, cracked, or blackened outlets
Covers in place, especially in washdown areas
✅ Cables and extension cords
No crushed, cut, or worn cables, replace as needed
Avoid using an extension cord as a permanent installation
✅ Motors and ventilation
No excessive dust buildup on motors, fans, controllers
Unusual noise or vibration: note it and have it checked
Monthly checklist (30 minutes)
✅ Targeted cleaning
Dust around panels, motors, and controllers (without opening equipment if you’re not qualified).
✅ Higher-risk equipment
Heating, lighting, motors, conveyors, feeding equipment: check that enclosures and connections appear to be in good condition.
✅ Take notes when needed
If the same breakers trip often, record the date, time, and what equipment was running at the moment of the trip. This can help pinpoint the cause.
| Seasonal checklist (or at key moments)
Winter: space heaters positioned safely, check cables exposed to cold, higher electrical loads.
Summer: pay closer attention to full-speed ventilation, higher humidity, and increased corrosion risk.
After adding equipment: verify the new electrical load, adjust as needed, and prevent risks tied to poor or incomplete connections.
After electrical work: re-check enclosures, update labels, verify cables and protective devices so everything remains compliant.
| When to call an electrician
Contact a professional right away if:
something is heating up (outlet, panel, junction box)
a breaker trips repeatedly
you notice burn marks, an odor, or crackling
you’re adding major equipment (ventilation, robot, motor, heating)
| From reaction to prevention
Maintenance is essential. But to prevent small anomalies from becoming big problems, a proactive approach is to monitor the electrical network and act quickly when abnormal behavior appears.
Here’s a downloadable reminder to keep on hand with what to check on the farm:
