For Immediate Release
March 6, 2009 – Burlington Hydro Inc. is inviting local businesses and trades to attend a free Powerline Safety Seminar on March 26.
The important seminar will feature presentations by industry experts on potential hazards on job sites associated with overhead and underground powerlines, and a review of critical guidelines to help keep workers safe.
While Burlington Hydro is encouraging attendance from any interested business, the utility is making a special effort to attract managers or owner-operators whose workers are at greatest risk of inadvertent contact with live powerlines. The targeted occupations include roofers, siding and eaves trough installers, landscapers, construction workers, excavators, and operators of dump trucks and all types of high-lift booms.
“Preventative education initiatives by industry groups and hydro utilities have resulted in significant reductions in powerline incidents, but there’s still a lot of work to be done and education needs to be consistently reinforced,” says Colin Saunders, Manager - Health, Safety & Environment, Burlington Hydro Inc.
Over the last seven years in Ontario, there have been close to 50 fatalities or critical injuries when non-electrical workers or their equipment contact powerlines.
“Powerline tragedies or critical injuries on job sites are typically due to a lack of awareness or understanding of dangerous conditions. That’s what we’re helping to correct,” says Colin Saunders, Manager - Health, Safety & Environment, Burlington Hydro Inc.
The Powerline Safety Seminar takes place Thursday, March 26th, 2009, 8:30 am to 11:30 am, at King's Court Banquet Centre, 1159 King Road in Burlington. Refreshments will be served. Registration is open to any Burlington business by completing the on-line registration form at www.burlingtonhydro.com/safetyseminar.
Companies interested in registering can also contact Colin Saunders directly at 905.336.4370 or csaunders@burlingtonhydro.com.
The Powerline Safety Seminar is a convenient opportunity to hear from key organizations responsible for electrical safety regulation and education in one place. Guest experts include representatives from the Electrical Safety Authority, the Ministry of Labor and the Workplace Safety & Insurance Board.
“Attending could be the most important couple of hours that businesses or independent trades invest this spring,” adds Saunders.
Burlington Hydro Inc., established in 1945 as the Burlington Public Utilities Commission, is an energy services based company in the power distribution business. The company serves over 61,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers. Burlington Hydro Inc. is committed to engineering and service delivery excellence. The utility is ranked number 1 in Ontario for operational efficiency.
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For more information contact:
Gary Holloway
Manager, Corporate Communications
Burlington Hydro Inc.
905.638.4226 gholloway@burlingtonhydro.com
