Hydro One's latest safety campaign has revealed that many Ontarians may be putting themselves in danger while tackling their outdoor to do list.
A survey initiated by the company's Mind the Lines campaign, and carried out by Innovative Research Group, showed that almost 80 per cent of Ontarians either didn't know or weren't sure how far to stay away from overhead power lines when doing things like cleaning eavestroughs or trimming trees.
Almost one in four respondents didn't know or weren't sure how far to stay away from downed power lines.
And when undertaking a digging project, like putting in a fence or deck, only 43 per cent would think to call and locate underground electrical wires.
"Staying safe while working at home is critical so we are asking customers to look up, down and underground," said Scott Vicary, Hydro One's Director of Health, Safety, and Environment.
"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," he added.
Hydro One is offering three key tips to keep residents from coming into contact with dangerous electrical infrastructure:
• Stay three meters away from overhead wires
• Stay 10 metres away from downed power lines - assume any downed power line is live and immediately call 911 and report it to Hydro One
• Call or click before you dig - requesting a 'locate' before you dig is the law and is a 24/7 service offered by Hydro One. Once you have your locates, dig responsibly, respect the marks and follow the instructions provided on locate sheets.
More information on Hydro One's Mind the Lines campaign can be found here.
