
Electrical Safety
Learn the answers to the six questions below. It may save you 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?
- 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?
- 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?)
- 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?
- 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?
- 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)?
- 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