SaFety

eFFiciency guide

epcor.ca

• Use safety covers on open electrical sockets. Children love to stick their hands or other objects inside the holes, which can cause electrocution.

• If possible, always use the back burners on your stove – if your child accidentally touches the stove, there is less likelihood of getting burned. Turn all pot handles towards the back of the stove as well to prevent your child from pulling them off the stove.

• Keep potholders, plastic utensils, towels and other noncooking equipment away from the stove, as these items can catch fire.

• When purchasing an electric space heater, look for the UL mark. Keep at least three feet between the heater and anything that can burn. Turn the heater off before falling asleep or leaving the area you are heating.

• Use proper fuses in electrical boxes, do not overload outlets and use insulated and grounded electrical cords.

• Garden hoses should not be stored in the sun – the water sitting in them can become so hot it can scald a child.

• A child can drown in as little as an inch of water. This is a major reason why the bathroom is so dangerous. Make sure that there is never any standing water in your bathtub or sink.

• Prevent burns by unplugging your curling iron, blowdryer and any other appliances that create heat, and make sure to put them away safely after you use them.

• Anything that plugs into an electrical outlet should be kept away from the bath tub, sink and toilet. Water conducts electricity, and if you or your child were in the water and a plugged-in appliance fell in, it could cause electrocution.

• Manually set your water so that the highest water temperature allowable is 50°C (120°F). By doing this you can reduce the likelihood of scalding.

• Children have very sensitive skin, and it takes only about three seconds of exposure to hot water for them to receive a serious burn. Always test the water with your entire hand or elbow before putting your child in the tub.

• To test the temperature of your tap water, fill a glass of hot water from your tap and measure the heat using a meat or candy thermometer. If it’s too hot, turn the thermostat on your hot water tank down, wait 24 hours, and test the water again. Repeat this process until the water measures 50°C (120°F).

• Be sure to install toilet child safety locks to keep your child from lifting the lid. This will prevent him or her from falling in or throwing foreign objects down the toilet.

• Make sure outlets in the bathroom and kitchen are updated with ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs), which turn off electricity if appliances fall into water.

DID YOU know?Children have very sensitiveskin, and it takes only aboutthree seconds of exposure tohot water for them to receivea serious burn.

SaFety tips For the home

• Keep yard access gates in good repair.

• On your meter read date please unlock your gates.

• If you have a dog, big or small, please make sure that they are properly secured or restrained sufficiently away from the meter.

• Ensure your sidewalks are kept clear of ice, snow or any other debris that may be hazardous to your meter reader.

• Ensure a safe, clear path all the way to your meter; hidden hazards under the snow may be a source of injury to your meter reader.

• Also ensure a clear path and access to fire hydrants. In an emergency every second counts!

• Let your meter reader know of any hazardous conditions (if you have stairs or a deck that are not safe). Post a sign letting him or her know to stay off.

• Keep the area around the meter free from clutter; avoid using this area for storage.

• Remove brush, plants, or shrubs that may obstruct the view for reading or cause a hazard to your meter reader.

• Be aware of the location of your meter; what might have been free and easy access when the meter was installed, may now be a hazard. New construction may place the meter in an inaccessible location.

The power meter is attached to the side of your house. It has a glass face like a clock and little dials. It measures the amount of electricity used by the people in your house.• Be careful around utility meters. The glass can break and expose

sharp pieces and electricity.

• If a meter does get damaged, call EPCOR Emergency Dispatch (780-412-4500) or your local utility company.

Meter Access:

Holiday Lighting:If you’re going to get festive and decorate your home for the holidays, take precautions to make sure you do it safely.• Check your lights. Replace burnt out bulbs and toss

any lights with damaged cords.• If you leave your lights up year round, check for sun

damage to cords.• Always use extension cords and timers rated for

outside use.

Mowing the Lawn:Use caution before you start cutting the grass. Whirring blades aren’t the only safety concern.• Check that your tools are clean and in good shape

with undamaged cords.• Cut the grass starting near the electrical outlet, then

gradually move away to reduce the risk of running over the cord.

• Mow grass only when it’s dry.• Repair damaged blades, plugs or cords.

Kites:• Don’t fly kites near power lines. Strings that contact

an overhead power line can provide a path to the ground and you may be part of that path.

• If your kite does become tangled in a line, DO NOT attempt to retrieve it. Call EPCOR or your local power company for assistance.

Working Outdoors:Before starting on those summer home repair projects, take a few steps and plan to work safely.• Learn where the power lines are and keep your

equipment the appropriate distance away.• Contact EPCOR to find out the voltages on

overhead lines.• By default, the appropriate safe distance without

this knowledge is 7 metres from overhead lines.• Lower your ladder when moving it.• Make sure you have a backflow device on your

outdoor hose tap to prevent contaminants from getting back into your home water supply.

Tree Trimming:Trees or other vegetation sometimes grow too close to power lines or equipment, creating potential safety issues. If trees are near power lines:• Do not trim the tree.• Call EPCOR to have a tree trimmed if there’s

a power line close to or touching it.

If trees are not near power lines:• Use a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlet

for electric trimmers and chain saws.• If possible, use battery operated or rechargeable

hedge trimmers.• Always unplug equipment before cleaning.• Repair damaged blades, plugs or cords.

SaFety tips For the outdoors & yard work

Substations:Substations are electrical facilities with lots of wires going in and out and are surrounded by chain link fencing. They are dangerous, so stay away!• Do not play near substations as there is a great deal

of electricity around them.• If your ball or Frisbee goes over the fence of

a substation, call EPCOR or your local power company for assistance.

• If you see a gate open to a substation, stay out and call EPCOR or your local power company.

TransFormers & Streetlights:Transformers are large grey or green boxes found in your neighbourhood and at your school with warning signs – “Danger High Voltage” and “Danger Keep Out” to remind you not to play on or around them.• If you see a transformer with a door that is open or

damaged, call EPCOR or your local power company.• Streetlights have small round doors which sometimes

get rusty or damaged and fall open. Call EPCOR or your local power company to repair it.

• If there’s a streetlight in your neighbourhood that doesn’t come on at night, call EPCOR or your local power company.

Digging:Are you planning any projects on your property that involve excavation? For safety’s sake, before you start contact Alberta One Call (1-800-242-3447) or your local utility company to locate any utility lines on your property. Utility lines include water, electricity, drainage, and gas lines. Dig safely to protect yourself and the buried lines. It will save you money in the long run. It could even save your life.

This is a free service, but you should allow two days for the lines to be located.• Do not use any mechanical device within one metre

of power lines.• Using a shovel, carefully hand expose cables.• Shovels can damage cables so be careful.

If you hit something:• Stop digging and leave the area.• Call 911 or the utility’s emergency contact number.• Report even minor damage to the utility company.

For contact numbers in your area, contact your local utility company or log on to epcor.ca.

• Stay indoors during electrical storms if possible.

• Unplug appliances in a lightning storm. This can prevent damage from electrical surges due to lightning.

• You can protect sensitive equipment with surge protectors.

• Stay away from windows.

• If you can’t go indoors, get into a car and roll up the windows.

• Stay away from trees and anything metal including boat masts, light poles and bleachers.

• Stay out of lakes, swimming pools, rivers and other bodies of water.

• If boating, head for shore.

• Avoid wide open spaces such as parks and sports fields.

Long hot summer days often end with spectacular electrical storms. Here’s how to safely survive all that lightning.

electrical Storms:

SaFety tips For storms and downed lines

• Stay back at least 10 metres from a downed power line and anything it is touching. Call 911 for help.

• Electricity travels through the ground and can be very dangerous - this is called ‘step potential’. Just like ripples caused by throwing a rock into a pond, electricity travels through the ground in waves that lose power the further they travel. If a line comes down near you, shuffle with both feet in continuous contact with the ground for at least 10 metres away from the source.

• Do not touch someone being shocked by a downed line or you’ll run the risk of being shocked too.

• Stay inside the vehicle if a downed line touches your car. If people try to help tell them to stay away. Wait for EPCOR or local power company workers to turn off the power and tell you it’s safe to leave your vehicle.

• Do not try to approach someone trapped in a vehicle touching live wires.

Power lines don’t always spark or jump like in the movies. A downed line may have no signs that it is energized.

Downed Power Lines:

SaFety tips For Outages

During a power outage:• Turn off all electrical applicances and equipment.• Keep fridge and freezer closed as much as possible.• Stay warm. Dress in layers, draw drapes or cover

windows to prevent heat loss.• Don’t use camp stoves, kerosene heaters or

barbecues indoors as they emit carbon monoxide.• Gas stoves used as a heat source for long periods

without ventilation will do the same.

Once your power is restored:• Turn on only the most essential appliances first

to give the electrical system a chance to stabilize. Wait 10 to 15 minutes before reconnecting other appliances.

• Check your fridge and freezer to ensure they are back on. Check your freezer’s guide to determine if the food can be safely refrozen.

• Don’t forget to reset your clocks, timers, and alarms.• Replace any items from your Emergency Kit which

you may have used so you are prepared for future outages.

Ensure you’re prepared by making a power outage kit with:• Flashlight and fresh batteries.• Candles, matches, and candleholders.• A battery-powered radio.• A battery-powered clock.• Non-perishable food.• Can opener.• Bottled water.• Warm clothes and blankets.• Important medications.• If you have a fireplace, keep a stock of firewood.• Include important telephone numbers.

You should also ensure you have access to a phone that doesn’t need power to operate or a cell phone. It’s also a good idea to keep at least a half tank of fuel in your vehicle at all times as fuel stations are closed during a power outage.

Power Outages

Despite our record of high reliability, power outages can and do happen.

Water Outages

Unforseen incidents like water main breaks may cause a disruption to your water service.Ensure you’re prepared by:• Having access to bottled water for drinking.

Once your water service is restored:• Run a water tap for 10 minutes or until the water is clear.

epcor.ca