Electrical Safety

Safety is Everybody's Responsibility!

Here are six safety tips that can save yours or a loved one’s life:

How close can you come to a downed powerline, such as a downed powerline caused by a storm or accident? 

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School Bus
  • Maintain a distance of 10 metres (33 feet/the length of a school bus)
  • If you see a downed powerline, call 911 and Oakville Hydro (905-825-9400) ASAP

 

If you were undertaking outdoor activities, such as cleaning windows or trimming trees, how close can you safely come to an overhead powerline with your body or an object? 

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    YouTube video screenshot
     Maintain a distance of at least 3 metres or more from overhead powerlines
  • It's very dangerous to be near to or make contact with an overhead powerline. You don’t have to contact a powerline directly for it to seriously injure or kill you.
  • Click here to watch an informative video on our YouTube channel
How dangerous do you believe it is to touch an overhead powerline (with your body or an object?)
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Powerline Safety
  • Very dangerous!  It is dangerous to get closer than 3 metres (10 feet) to overhead powerlines!
  • You don’t have to contact a powerline directly for it to seriously injure or kill you. Stay back at least 3 metres (10 feet).
  • Anything that touches a powerline – a pruning tool, the tree limb or your hand can give you a shock or kill you. Stay back 3 metres (10 feet).
  • Click here to watch an informative video on our YouTube channel

 

If you are in a vehicle and an overhead powerline comes down on top of it, what should you do?
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Powerline on Car YouTube
  • STAY IN THE VEHICLE UNTIL POWER HAS BEEN DISCONNECTED. Your car and ground around it can be electrified if a power line falls on it. Stay in the car, call 911 and tell others to stay far back!
  • Powerlines in contact with your car can electrify the ground around it for 10 metres in all directions. Stay in your car and call 911.
  • If you must exit the car due to fire, jump clear of the car with both feet together
  • Click here to watch an informative video on our YouTube channel
If you were undertaking a household activity that required digging, such as planting a tree or building a deck, how likely are you to call to locate electrical or other underground lines?
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    ON1Call Statistic
     Definitely! Call before you dig - it's the law and it could save your life.
  • Contact Ontario One Call at least 5 business days before you plan to dig
  • Request a locate online at this link or call Ontario One Call 24/7 at 1-800-400-2255
  • Click here to watch an informative video on our YouTube channel
How dangerous is it to try to open, remove contents, or touch electrical equipment located in steel cabinets (pad-mounted transformers)? 
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Pad-Mounted Transformer blocked by grass
  • Very dangerous! Inside, steel cabinets can have up to 27,699 V of electricity. 
  • Trying to open, remove contents of touching the electrical equipment is very dangerous! 
  • Keep the area around the steel cabinet clear from obstructions, including landscaping
  • Click here to watch an informative video on our YouTube channel