Summer Safety Tips-Home Trend Magazine

Summer is all about spending time outdoors, enjoying the fresh air and making memories with family and friends.

For many, summer is also a busy time for gardening, landscaping, and other backyard projects. Before preparing these green thumbs and special equipment, it is important to review the safety measures to avoid potential harm or danger. Here are some tips to keep you safe this summer.

1. Think big – When planting trees or new shrubs, be sure to consider how large they will grow. If growth is expected near the power line, choose another location and keep it away to avoid future contact.
2. Identify the location of the following power lines – Before you start excavating projects such as new fences, gazebos / pergolas, deck installations, you need to make sure that the power lines are not buried underground. This also applies to tree planting and pool installation. Contact Ontario One Call to find all lines owned by the utility (natural gas, telecommunications, power lines, water and sewage pipes). For privately owned underground infrastructure, a private locate is required.
3. Do not work alone – Work on any yard project with teamwork! If you need to use high-range tools near ladders or power lines for tasks such as pruning trees, have someone monitor you as you work. Both need to make sure that you and your tools are at least 3 meters away from the fictitious power lines, as electricity can “arc” or jump as it approaches.
4. Hire the right professional – For larger projects, such as installing pools and hot tubs, do not treat them the same as for DIY projects. Before making a decision, be sure to conduct a survey and consult with a specialist such as Licensed Electrical Contracting (LEC) Business or your local power company. These help determine the requirements under the Ontario Electrical Safety Code (OESC) regarding the wiring and placement of pools or hot tubs near overhead power lines.
5. Talk about details – OESC and local utilities have requirements for placing objects such as gazebos / pergolas and pools under overhead power lines. Be sure to ask the professionals you work with, including your local power company, for appropriate measurements.
6. Keep a distance – Always be aware of your safety limits, as summer can lead to unexpected weather conditions. If you find power lines down or overhead lines hanging down, everyone should be at least 10 meters (school bus length) away and immediately call 911 and the local utility company to be safe. You need to warn of the above problem. Keep away from the ground around the power line as it may still be energized.

For more safety tips, please visit: esasafe.com/safety

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