Summer Safety Tips
This summer, protect yourself and your loved ones from the dangers of electricity by keeping key safety information in mind.
Summer parties
Be aware of where the power lines are when you are outdoors and plan your activities away from them.
- Large tents with metal poles need to be in wide-open spaces.
- Make sure trampolines, wading pools and sprinklers aren't around power lines or electrical outlets.
- Helium-filled metallic balloons must be tied to a weight to keep them from floating away. A metallic balloon that comes into contact with an overhead power line can disrupt electric service to an entire neighbourhood and cause significant property damage.
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Water safety around dams
When near a hydroelectric dam or station, or overflow weir, make sure you:
- Obey all warning signs, fences, booms, buoys and barriers. The areas inside are dangerous, so stay clear.
- Never stand below a dam or anchor a boat there. Operation of the station can result in rapidly changing water levels and flows can take you by surprise swamping your boat or putting you in the grip of an undertow.
- Do not stand or boat next to closed spillway gates (the part of the dam that is movable to allow excessive water to pass the station) as these can be opened at any time.
- There are many dangerous areas above and below hydro generating stations where the water is flowing very fast, currents are unpredictable and the river is deep. The rocks next to these areas are frequently wet and slippery. Falling in these locations could be fatal.
- Stay off hydroelectric dams or station structures unless clearly indicated as a walkway.
- When swimming, fishing or boating in a river that has a dam, be aware of the water level and be alert to increasing river flows or rising water levels.
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Downed power lines
Moving power lines is extremely dangerous, and could result in serious injury or death. Never touch a downed power line or try to move one with any type of object. Even if the material is non-conductive, such as wood, moisture in the wood will act as a conductor. Also, the line could slide down the object and come into contact with your body.
- if you live in a tornado zone or where high winds can occur, secure anything that might be blown around or torn loose and cause a fire;
- report downed lines to us or the police immediately;
- treat all downed lines as if they were energized; stay away from them and anything that they touch including puddles of water and fences, especially if the fences are metal;
- keep children inside and pets on a leash to keep them safe from electric shock or electrocution;
- if you see a power line touching a vehicle with people in it, do not attempt to rescue them. Contact us, stay a safe distance away, and try to keep people in the vehicle calm until help arrives;
- never attempt to repair damaged power lines or remove tree limbs from power lines. Only qualified Manitoba Hydro employees should do this;
- if you see crews working on power lines, try to avoid their work area.
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Outdoor pools
Have a licensed electrical contractor install and maintain your pool wiring and equipment. Residential and commercial pool owners and operators should look into upgrading protection for lights, receptacles and switches on older pools. Inspection, detection, and correction are the best ways to protect swimmers from electrical hazards.
What are the dangers?
- faulty underwater pool lighting;
- aging electrical wiring that hasn't been inspected in years;
- the use of sump pumps, power washers and vacuums that are not grounded;
- outdoor lighting, circuits, and receptacles not protected by Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs);
- damaged cords on electrical equipment.
When hosting a pool party, remind guests:
- to never touch electric cords, switches, or appliances when wet, standing in water, or with wet hands;
- if an electrical cord or appliance falls into the water do not try to get it until you turn off the power at the main switch;
- to have an emergency plan to safely help someone who is suffering an electrical shock. Do not jump into the water to save the victim.
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Call before you dig
Before you begin a project that involves digging, call us. Hitting buried electrical equipment can result in service interruptions, safety hazards, and death. You may also be responsible for damages.
If you are outside of Winnipeg, call us at 1-888-MBHYDRO (1-888-624-9376); in Winnipeg call 480-1212 to locate natural gas and electric underground lines or cables. Our trained personnel will mark the locations of underground power lines, natural gas lines, and buried installations such as vaults containing transformers or electrical switchgear.
Call other utilities to find out if they have underground services in your area.
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Around the yard
Home improvement safety
Many homeowners lack the training and experience to perform home electrical work safely. Working with electricity requires planning and extreme care; cutting corners can lead to costly mistakes, injuries, or death.
Practice safe habits:
- always turn off the power to the circuit that you plan to work on by switching off the circuit breaker in the main service panel;
- if a power tool trips a safety device while in use, take the tool to an authorized repair centre for service before you use it again;
- never use power tools near live electrical wires or gas and water pipes, especially when you cut or drill into walls where they could be accidentally touched;
- disconnect tools when you are finished with them. Tools should be unplugged before you change blades or bits;
- never stand in a puddle or on a damp floor when you work directly on or near electricity;
- store your power tools in a dry, locked, location where children can't get at them;
- Never attempt a project that is beyond your skill level. By knowing when to call a professional, you can help prevent electrical fires, injuries, and death.
Mowing the lawn
- work away from the electrical outlet when using an electric lawn mower or hedge clipper to avoid accidentally cutting the electrical cord;
- never use an electric lawn mower or hedge clippers in the rain or when lawns or hedges are wet;
Trimming trees
- trees should be at least twice their length away from an overhead power source;
- before trimming or felling a tree, check the immediate vicinity to determine exactly where overhead power lines are located;
- do not use a metal ladder or tools that conduct electricity when lines are nearby; any device can conduct electricity if the tree being cut makes contact with the power line;
- if there is any doubt whether a tree or branch will fall on a line, contact your local Manitoba Hydro office.
Installing an antenna
- choose a location far enough away from overhead power lines so neither you nor the antenna could possibly touch the line;
- have someone help you; a gust of wind can easily throw you off balance;
- make sure the antenna is properly grounded, guyed, and secured.
Ladder safety
- keep all ladders away from overhead power lines;
- when installing aluminum siding, be sure the siding, the ladder, and you do not touch the overhead power lines.
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Substations
Substations are part of the electrical distribution system that delivers electricity to homes and businesses. Power companies fence the stations to protect the public from the equipment inside. Signs on the fence of the stations warn of electrical danger and to stay out. Only people who have special protective equipment and training are allowed to work in a substation.
Explain to children that a substation is a dangerous place. Show them the danger signs and explain the importance of staying out. If a ball goes over the fence, never go into the substation after it. Contact us for help.
Sometimes vandals cut and remove sections of ground wires in substations and on hydro poles. In addition to the dangers of this activity, open gates or holes in fences can create an opportunity to access the hazards within a substation. If you spot a substation fence, ground wire on a hydro pole or equipment that has been tampered with, stay clear and report the hazard immediately by calling 1-888-MBHYDRO.
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Kites
Kites that come into contact with electricity can cause serious injuries. Keep your family safe:
- fly kites in open areas away from power lines and antennas; open fields away from busy streets are ideal;
- never fly kites in stormy weather; lightning could cause injury;
- metal is very conductive, so choose kites made of wood or plastic. Never use metallic wire as kite string;
- if your kite becomes snagged in a power line or a tree near a power line, never try to retrieve it. Call your local Manitoba Hydro office and a crew will safely return your kite.
Keep these tips in mind when you fly model airplanes and metallic balloons as well.
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Boating
Practice electrical safety, especially with a sailboat. Tall masts can touch overhead power lines, resulting in serious injury.
- when towing a boat, make sure the mast is lowered and secure;
- when launching or sailing a boat, look around and avoid overhead power lines;
- stay away from hydroelectric dams and stations; changes in water levels and flow change can disrupt a formerly calm or dry riverbed causing turbulence and strong undercurrents.
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Never shoot at insulators
Insulators on hydro poles and towers keep electricity from finding a path to the ground. A broken insulator can disrupt power for a long time. The pole or tower could become charged with electricity and create an electrocution hazard. If you suspect an insulator is damaged, do not go near the tower or pole.
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Grass and stubble fires
Before you burn any grass or stubble, make sure all safety precautions are in place. Never leave a fire unattended and be sure to have fireguards in place to protect poles.
Every year, utility poles are burned and electricity service interrupted by fires set by uncontrolled burns.
As a landowner, you are responsible for damage caused by grass fires and liable for the repair and replacement costs of utility poles.
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Farm safety
- Before moving equipment through the yard, lower dump truck boxes, cultivator wings and augers.
- Never lift a power line with a piece of lumber. Choose a safe route.
- Choose a route with enough clearance.
- If your equipment comes into contact with a power line, back away if possible. Stay on the vehicle and warn others to stay clear. Call Manitoba Hydro at 1-888-MBHYDRO for help.
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