Emergencies such as extreme weather events can happen at any time and have the potential to cause extended power outages. In the event of an outage, it’s important for customers to be as prepared as possible to help keep themselves and their loved ones safe and comfortable while crews work to address safety issues and restore power.

To help customers stay emergency-ready, Toronto Hydro is reminding customers to:

• Always have a fully stocked 72-hour emergency kit with water and non-perishable food items for all members of your household; first aid items and medications; and basic tools and supplies, such as a flashlight, batteries and a power bank to charge small electronics like cell phones
• Make themselves aware of the online tools available to help stay informed and connected during an extended outage
• Register those who depend on electrically powered medical equipment, such as a ventilator or kidney dialysis machine for Toronto Hydro’s Life Support Notification Program
• Update emergency contact numbers

Extreme weather events can also bring trees and branches down onto powerlines and cause unsafe conditions. While powerlines are one of the most important types of equipment for utilities, they’re also one of the most dangerous. Below are tips on how to stay safe around downed powerlines:

• Stay back at least 10 metres from downed powerlines (the length of a school bus)
• Always assume the wire is live and potentially dangerous
• Report downed wires to Toronto Hydro at 416-542-8000 or call 911

Toronto Hydro is committed to keeping customers safe at home, at work and around the city. For more information, please visit torontohydro.com/safety.

• EP Week is a national awareness initiative aimed at encouraging Canadians to take steps to become better prepared for emergencies
• Toronto Hydro has an EP Guide available in 10 languages, with tips on what to do before, during and after a power outage
• According to a recent survey, more than half of our customers have some form of an emergency kit at home, but only 13 per cent of customers have a fully stocked, 72-hour emergency kit prepared
• Powerline Safety Week is an annual campaign led by the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) and local distributors like Toronto Hydro to raise awareness about the risks posed by powerlines
• According to the ESA, contact with a powerline is a leading cause of electrical-related deaths in Ontario

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The survey conducted by Innovative Research Group, revealed that almost 80 per cent of Ontarians either didn’t know or weren’t sure how far to stay away from overhead power lines while undertaking routine activities such as cleaning windows, eavestroughs or trimming their trees. The same survey found that while almost one in four respondents didn’t know or weren’t sure how far to stay away from downed power lines, only 43 per cent would definitely call to locate electrical or other underground lines before undertaking an outdoor project that required digging.

“Staying safe while working at home is critical so we are asking customers to look up, down and underground this summer, whether they are tackling routine outdoor chores or starting new projects,” said Scott Vicary, Vice President, Health and Safety, Hydro One. “Our Mind the Lines campaign is designed to remind residents of the steps they need to take before they put in a new garden, install a fence, or trim their trees, in a fun and memorable way. We’re here to help customers stay safe as we energize life across Ontario.”

To avoid coming into contact with dangerous electrical infrastructure, Ontarians are encouraged to remember three key tips:

1. Stay three meters away from overhead wires – that’s approximately the length of three beavers.
   Be aware of any overhead wires by always looking up before carrying a ladder, pruning a tree, or engaging in outdoor activities like flying a drone.
2. Stay 10 meters away from downed power lines – the length of approximately 10 bloodhound dogs.
   If you come across a downed power lines, assume they’re live, stay far back and immediately call 911 and report it to Hydro One.
3. Call or click before you dig – channel your inner gopher!
   Whether you’re planting a tree, installing a deck or putting in a new fence, requesting a locate before you dig is the law as well as a 24/7 service. Once you have your locates, dig responsibly, respect the marks and follow the instructions provided on locate sheets.

For more information on Hydro One’s Mind the Lines visit HydroOne.com

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These incidents occurred across Western and Northern Ontario and are an example of the breadth of ways in which Ontarians could come in contact with powerlines. One incident, fortunately non-fatal, involved an attempt by an individual to move a downed powerline they had mistakenly identified as non-electric. The other two incidents involved construction sites. At one, a log boom made contact with an overhead powerline, and in the other an individual’s tool came within three metres of the powerline, tragically, resulting in a fatality.

The ESA is supporting the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development regarding the incidents that are under investigation.

According to ESA data, August is the most lethal month for powerline contacts with the highest number of fatal incidents among both the general public and on job sites. Since 2012-2021 there have been 19 fatalities and 1,393 overhead powerline contacts in Ontario. These recent incidents underscore this concerning trend, and further demonstrate the serious risks posed by powerline contacts.

“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, Electrical Safety Authority. “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, and we urge Ontarians to take precaution to ensure their well-being when working in the vicinity of powerlines.”

To help everyone stay safe around powerlines, ESA has launched a multi-pronged campaign to raise awareness among at-risk workers and the general public about the dangers posed by powerlines. Using everyday objects like ladders and basketball hoops to conceptualize what a safe distance should be from overhead and downed powerlines, ESA will be reminding Ontarians that the distance between life and death is closer than they think.

Ontarians should keep these tips in mind:

• Wires don’t have to move or make noise to indicate if they’re energized or not. Assume that any wire – overhead or downed – is live and deadly.
• Electricity can jump (arc) to you and your tools even if you don’t make direct contact with an overhead powerline.
• Job sites should use a competent dedicated signaller to guide and warn operators of machinery that could come within 3 metres of powerlines.
• Treat all downed wires as energized and call your local utility immediately when found. Don’t approach the downed wire. Remember to keep everyone back 10 metres; the length of a school bus.

Learn more about powerline safety at ESAsafe.com/stoplooklive.

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Powerlines are critical for distributing power to the many homes and businesses of Toronto, but they are also dangerous. Extreme weather events can bring trees and branches down onto powerlines and cause unsafe conditions. Below are tips on how to stay safe around downed powerlines:

• Always assume a downed powerline is live and that the ground around it may be electrified
  
  
• Always stay at least 10 metres back — about the length of a school bus — and report it immediately to 416-542-8000
  
  
• If a powerline lands on a vehicle, the driver should remain in the vehicle and drive away slowly until they are at least 10 metres away and then report it or call 911
  
  
• If a powerline lands on a vehicle and the driver must exit due to immediate danger, the driver should jump from the vehicle without touching the vehicle and the ground at the same time and land with both feet together. They should then shuffle at least 10 metres away from the vehicle and report it or call 911

Powerline contacts are the leading cause of electrical-related fatalities in Ontario, with a staggering 19 fatalities and 1,393 overhead powerline contacts reported to the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) between 2012 and 2021. This is a 305 per cent increase in powerline contacts among the general public.

Powerline Safety Week is an annual campaign led by the ESA and local distributors like Toronto Hydro to raise awareness about the risks posed by powerlines. For more life-saving tips and educational content, please visit www.esasafe.com/safety.

Toronto Hydro is committed to keeping customers safe at home, at work and around the city. To learn how to recognize and avoid electrical hazards, please visit torontohydro.com/safety.

“Extreme weather can happen at any time and bring down powerlines in an instant. It’s important that customers understand the dangers of downed wires and how to protect themselves from injury in the event of an emergency” – Daniel McNeil, Corporate Spokesperson, Toronto Hydro

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