Not many workers are aware of electrical safety rules; new survey shows

When it comes to electrical safety for workers, there is a concerning lack of awareness.

This comes from BC Hydro’s new survey, finding that one-third of respondents have been either injured or shocked by electricity or know someone who has been hurt or shocked, with over 20 percent saying those injured workers were either new to the job or had insufficient training.

Hydro says seasonal work brings a lot of younger, less experienced workers to job sites, increasing the risk of injuries.

Hydro Vice-President of Safety Matt Wilson says those who work in construction, tree trimming, painting, and window washing are especially at high risk in the spring and summer.

“By increasing awareness and reinforcing best practices, workplaces can significantly reduce preventable injuries and ensure worker safety around power lines,” said Wilson.

Hydro adds almost one-third of workers don’t know what the safe distance is from power lines, with nearly half of them saying they use aluminum, wood, or metal ladders. Those types of ladders increase injury risks as they conduct electricity.

Along with lack of awareness, the survey also finds unsafe work practices are another concern, with 60 percent of workers seeing hazards near power lines and almost 40 percent of them reporting safety concerns to their employer.

Hydro urges workers and employers to look for overhead and underground power lines while working, to keep a safe distance from the lines, and if you see a fallen or exposed line, stay 10 meters back and call 9-1-1.

–Files by Hussam Elghussein, My Cowichan Valley Now