HOW DO YOU INSTALL DRAIN TILE?
SAFELY.
A lot has changed over the years when it comes to installing drain tile. Better information and access to equipment has made do-it-yourself drain tiling easier. Farmers are saving money by installing their own systems.
At the same time, the number of drain tile specialty contractors has grown, giving farmers more options for outsourcing. A leader in this space is Clark Farm Drainage (pictured below). Three generations of Clarks have grown the company over forty years. Just as the equipment and processes have evolved, so has attention to safely.
There are a lot of different paths drainage projects can take. Whether you decide to do it yourself or hire it out, take the time to follow these few simple steps to work safely.
PIPELINES AND PLANNING
TILING NEAR PIPELINES
Once the location and depth are determined and you have moved on to designing your installation, a best practice is to minimize the number of times your drain tile crosses buried pipelines and utilities, lessening the chances of hitting a line while digging.
HOW ACCIDENTS HAPPEN
Scores of farmers safely install tile and reap the benefits every year. Unfortunately, a handful roll the dice and start drain tiling projects without first having underground pipelines and utilities marked. While it is the exception and not the rule, the Drain Tile Safety Coalition shares the following examples to demonstrate how accidents happen and the consequences of hitting a line. These accidents could have been avoided with a call to 811 to have lines marked.
OTHER HAZARDS
The National Ag Safety Database estimates that 80 percent of farm accidents result from carelessness or failure to deal with hazards safely. Don’t be part of that 80 percent. With respect to drain tile, here are some of the other hazards to be mindful of.