May 13-18 is Powerline Safety Week. Join electrical companies across the nation in the Electrical Safety Authority’s (ESA) annual campaign to promote safety and awareness of the dangers of overhead powerlines. Be aware of the associated risks and avoid fatal distractions by following three critical steps: Stop, Look, and Live.

With Powerline Safety Week approaching, electrical companies are urging people to practice safety around powerlines. Typical voltages traveling through long-distance transmissions range from 155,000 to 765,000 volts. While no specific voltage can kill or severely injure an individual, electrical currents aren’t something most people want to play with.

According to ESA data, there were nearly 19 fatalities and 1,393 overhead powerline contacts in Ontario between 2012 and 2021—60% of which occurred in the construction industry, with eight registered fatalities.

“The consequences of making contact with a powerline can be instantly fatal or physically devastating,” says Patience Cathcart, Director of Data Science and Public Safety Officer for the ESA. “It is crucial to know where powerlines are when you’re working, whether that’s at a job site or doing work around your house. We urge Ontarians to take precautions to ensure their well-being when working in the vicinity of powerlines.”

To help prevent powerline accidents, ESA has launched a campaign to raise awareness among at-risk workers and the public about the dangers of powerlines. The campaign uses everyday objects like ladders and basketball hoops to help people conceptualize a safe distance from overhead and downed powerlines. 

A recent ESA survey of trade workers raised some red flags for powerline safety:

• Only 18% of respondents correctly identified the safe distance to stay back from overhead powerlines
• Only 26% correctly identified the limit of approach for downed powerlines
• 70% think it’s okay to touch a powerline with an orange cover-up

Despite these risks, 45% of survey respondents said they don’t receive regular training on powerline safety. According to ESA, this points to “a significant gap between awareness and education in this crucial area.”

The haulage industry, aerial lifts, and excavators are the biggest contributors to the accident figures. So, ahead of Powerline Safety Week, the ESA is offering the following tips for construction workers to avoid run-ins with powerlines.

8 powerline safety tips for Ontario construction workers

1. Do not begin any work until you’ve identified all the powerlines around you. Knowing where the powerlines are is the first step to avoiding them.

2. Keep yourself and your equipment at least 3 meters from overhead powerlines. You don’t have to touch a powerline to get a deadly shock. Electricity can jump or “arc” to you or your tools if you get too close. Have someone watch to ensure you stay at least 3 meters away from powerlines—about the length of a 10-step ladder.

3. An orange coverup does NOT make a powerline safe to touch. A brightly colored coverup helps make the powerline more visible—it does not make it less dangerous. You can still get a deadly shock if you touch it or get too close.

4. Before you begin any excavation work, contact your local utility or call Ontario One Call. Ask for a cable locate for all utility-owned underground infrastructure. Privately-owned underground powerlines need a private locate. 

5. You must have a competent, dedicated signaller to support drivers of dump trucks and other high-reach vehicles. This ensures that the equipment doesn’t come within 3 meters of overhead powerlines. 

6. Ensure that dump trucks on site lower the box after dropping off a load. It’s good practice to install a “raised box” indicator in the truck to remind the driver when the box is raised. 

7. Stay alert! Incidents often happen at the end of the day, when workers are tired or rushing to finish a job. 
8. If wires fall on the truck or the ground, always assume they are still energized. Stay in the vehicle, call 911, and keep everyone 10 meters back. Only the local utility worker on-site can confirm when the power is off and tell you when it’s safe to exit the vehicle.