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Power equipment can be dangerous.

That’s why we take extra precautions to ensure the safety of our employees and customers.

Learn how to be safe around downed power lines, substations, transformers and what to do if your vehicle hits power equipment.

 

Downed Power Lines

 

Power lines may show no signs of being energized and can cause serious injury or death if you come in contact with one. Here's how to stay safe:

  • Stay back at least 10 metres (33 feet), which is about the length of a school bus.

    Call us 24/7

    Phone: (705) 445-1800

  • If you are less than 10 metres away from the downed power line, shuffle to a safe distance
    Electricity travels through the ground in waves that lose power as they spread further away from the point of contact. If a line comes down near you, shuffle (keeping your feet together) until you are at least 10 metres (33 feet) away. Don't lift your feet off the ground.
  • Call 911 or EPCOR immediately and tell them the exact location of the line.
  • Do not attempt to help someone who is in contact or within 10 metres of a downed power line
    Call 911 and keep everyone else at least 10 metres away.
  • If your car is in contact with a downed power line stay inside your vehicle
    Tell others to stay back at least 10 meters (33 feet). Don't leave the vehicle until someone from EPCOR tells you it is safe to do so. Learn more about vehicle and power equipment safety.
  • If a downed line touches someone else's vehicle, tell them to stay inside
    Keep others at least 10 metres away from the vehicle until someone from EPCOR says it is safe. Don't approach the vehicle.
  • Do not drive over downed power lines.

Vehicle Accidents

 

Vehicle accidents involving power equipment

If your vehicle hits electrical equipment the first thing to remember is to stay in your vehicle. Do a quick assessment of the situation, try to determine whether or not you are a safe distance from power lines and equipment. Determine if your vehicle is drivable, depending on whether it is or not follow the steps below.

Call us 24/7

Phone: (705) 445-1800

If you can drive away:

  • If your vehicle is driveable and the vehicle is not entangled in the power line, drive away to a safe distance (at least 10 metres or about the length of a school bus).
  • Report the incident by calling EPCOR or 911. We will dispatch a crew to turn off the power and make the environment safe.
  • Do not approach the damaged equipment and keep others at least 10 metres away at all times.

If you can't drive away:

  • If you can't drive away or the power line is caught on your vehicle, stay inside your vehicle
  • Report the incident by calling EPCOR or 911. We will dispatch a crew to turn off the power and make the environment safe
  • Stay in your car until the door is opened for you by an EPCOR employee — they will know best when it's safe and guide you to exit your vehicle.
  • Keep others at least 10 metres away from your vehicle at all times.

If there's a fire:

  • Exit your vehicle by jumping clear of your vehicle. Keep your feet close together, landing on the ground with both feet at the same time. Do not touch the vehicle and the ground at the same time and don't return to or reach back into the vehicle to get anything you may have forgotten.
  • Once on the ground, shuffle your feet (keeping both feet on the ground at all times) until you are at least 10 metres away from your vehicle.
  • Call 911 and keep others at least 10 metres away at all times.

 

Substations and Transformers

 

Substations

Call us 24/7

Phone: (705) 445-1800

Always pay attention and obey warning signs posted by EPCOR on our electrical substations. Never enter the fenced in area of a substation as there is a high risk of injury.

Electrical facilities are dangerous. Entering or tampering with these assets can result in injury or death.

To help keep our crews and the public safe, please report any theft, damage, suspicious activity or unattended copper components to the police and/or to EPCOR. 

If your ball or Frisbee goes over the fence of a substation, contact EPCOR for assistance.

If you see a gate open to a substation, stay out and report it to EPCOR.

Transformers

Transformers are large grey or green boxes sometimes referred to as a utility box or an electrical box. Transformers can contain a variety of different utility equipment. This equipment can be dangerous, which is why transformers typically have warning signs with messages like "Danger High Voltage" and "Danger Keep Out". Do not play on or around these transformers and keep others from playing on them.

Contact EPCOR if you see:

  • A transformer with a door that is open or damaged
  • A vehicle hit a transformer (as this can cause a power outage)

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