12.7.2021 Safety

Please read the following safety tips and answer questions.

Work on missing assignments that are still open.

Vehicle Safety

What to do if a powerline falls on your vehicle

Always assume a downed powerline is energized and dangerous. Stay back at least 10 metres (about the length of a school bus) from powerlines.

Stay inside the vehicle

• Do not attempt to remove the downed wire!
• Inform everyone around you to stay 10 metres back; this includes first responders.
• If you can safely drive out from under the wire or away from the source of electricity, do so. Drive at least the length of a bus (about 10 metres or 33 feet) before stopping. Do not drive over the powerline because it may get tangled around your wheels.
• If you can't drive the vehicle away, stay where you are. Call 911 and the local utility. Wait until the local utility worker tells you when it’s safe to exit your vehicle.
• Only exit the vehicle if you must get out to stay safe (such as a fire), but follow these steps:
• Remove any loose-fitting clothing so no part of your body or your clothing touches the vehicle and the ground at the same time.
• With the door open, prepare to jump by tucking your elbows into your stomach and keeping your hands clasped close to your chest.
• Jump out and make sure you land with your feet together without touching the vehicle. Don't try to jump far.
• Move away from the vehicle, using the shuffle technique below.

Shuffle Technique — When you shuffle away from the vehicle, ensure your feet do not lift off the ground and are always touching each other. The inside of your heel should still be touching the toe of the other foot when you start to move the other leg forward. Using the shuffle technique, your feet and legs cannot form a circuit so electricity from the ground will not travel through you. (A downed powerline creates a voltage gradient on the ground surface. When walking, your feet and legs can act as a bridge between two areas of different voltages, and can form a circuit for electricity to travel through.)

If you're outside the vehicle

• Stay back at least 10 metres. You and everyone around you should keep the length of a school bus away.
• If you can communicate with people in the vehicle, tell them to stay inside the vehicle.
• Call 911 and the local utility.
• Wait for help to arrive.

Holiday Safety

Put Safety First

There are many holidays and occasions throughout the year that involve installing special lighting and decorations. Here are some tips and guidelines to help keep you and your family safe from electrical hazards when buying and installing lighting and décor for special occasions.

Light Up Safely

• Choose the right light for the job. Light strings and other decorations are rated for indoor or outdoor use.
• Read the package instructions, and never exceed the recommended wattage.
• Replace damaged electrical products (cords, plugs, ornaments).
• Avoid plugging too many lights and decorations into an outlet. Overloaded circuits can overheat and start a fire.
• Use Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) when plugging in outdoors.
• Buy decorations with the mark of an accredited certification agency on the package. 
• When you open the package, check for an approval sticker. This should appear on the cord of light strings. 

Extension Cords and Plugs

• Don’t overload extension cords or circuits by plugging in too many decorations.
  • This can create overheating and may result in a fire.
  • Fuses that frequently blow and circuits that trip might mean you have connected too many items to the circuit.
• Never remove the third prong on plugs. This "grounding pin" prevents shock in case of electrical equipment failure.
• Plug outdoor electrical decorations into Ground Fault (GFCI)-protected outlets.
• Don't run extension cords under carpets, through doorways, or in places where furniture might damage them.
• Keep outdoor connections above ground and out of puddles. Don't run them across driveways and/or walkways.

Product Safety

• Only purchase electrical products from reputable sources and retail outlets.
• When shopping for gifts, look at the fine details of the product information.
  • Typos may be a sign of a cheap or counterfeit product.
• For electrical products, look for the approval mark of an accredited certification agency (it will be on the product label or in the description).
  • This mark shows that the product has been tested and meets safety standards.
• If your electrical item is deemed unsafe, or does not have a certification mark, do not use it and return to the seller. You can report it to the Electrical Safety Authority.

Installing Decorations

• Usually, you can safely connect no more than three light strings. Read manufacturers' instructions for directions. 
• Make sure bulbs don't touch supply cords, wires, cloth, paper, or any material that's not part of the light string. 
• Use the proper clips for securing lights and decorations. Staples and nails can damage electrical cords. 
• Check for overhead power lines before using a ladder to put up decorations, or when hanging lights or decorations on trees.
• Holiday decorations aren't designed for year-round use and can deteriorate over time. Take them down when the holidays are over (your neighbours will thank you!). 

For general safety:

• Don't let children put electrical decorations or cords in their mouths.
• Keep an eye on pets that may chew or damage electrical cords.
• Turn off holiday lights and decorations when you leave the house or go to bed.

Back to School

Electrical Safety Tips

When hooking up computers, appliances, TVs, game consoles and other electronics, it pays to be safe. Students and parents who know what electrical hazards to look for and how to address them will start the school year with peace of mind.

Protect yourself from injury and keep electronics running safely by taking the following precautions:

• Use only approved electrical products with the mark of a recognized certification agency.
• Choose power bars with a heavy-gauge cord that are approved by a recognized certification agency;
• Replace frayed or damaged extension cords with new ones;
• Keep extension cords out from under carpet, rugs or furniture as this could damage the cord and also present a fire hazard;
• Keep flammable materials such as books, paper and clothing away from heaters, stoves and other heating sources;
• Never leave cooking appliances unattended;
• Plug portable heaters and air conditioners directly into the outlet. If an extension cord is needed, to prevent overheating and risk of fire, use only one that is rated for this purpose to ensure that the cord can handle the electrical current;
• Never remove the third prong from an electrical product. The third prong is the grounding device and is a critical safety feature; and
• Avoid overloading outlets or circuits as this can cause overheating that may lead to fire.

Every Fall, thousands of students move away from home to attend university or college.  When renting off-campus accommodations, have the landlord correct any electrical hazards before you move in, such as:

• Exposed electrical wiring;
• Loose or damaged plugs and switches, or outlets and switches with missing cover plates;
• Dim, flickering or surging lights;
• Fuses that blow or circuit breakers that frequently trip, or outlets that don't work when fuses are replaced or breakers reset; and
• Fuses and switches that are warm or hot to the touch.