Toronto Hydro aiming to improve electrical safety awareness

New safety campaign launches today

TORONTO, Jan. 15, 2018 /CNW/ -Starting today, Toronto residents will be seeing new electrical safety ads online, along with a safety quiz. It's part of our efforts to increase awareness of the dangers of electrical equipment and potentially help save lives.

Back in 2016, Toronto residents scored 71% on an electrical safety survey that was an initiative of the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) and the Ontario Energy Board (OEB). From that survey, there were three questions — all relating to powerlines — that scored poorest:

• How far to stay back from overhead wires
• When to call before you dig
• How far to stay back from a fallen wire

This is important electricity safety information that everyone should know. As the survey is being rolled out again next month, our campaign aims to improve the results — with a special focus on these questions — by using short, engaging videos, as well as an online quiz.

As safety is our number one priority, we want all residents to be armed with the right information to keep themselves safe. To watch the videos and find other electrical safety tips, visit torontohydro.com/safety  

QUICK FACTS:

• Research showed that women aged 18-34 and people living in apartments/condos or semi-detached homes scored poorest on the survey
• The ESA and OEB issue the safety survey every two years
• The awareness campaign will run until February 25

QUOTES

"We know people aren't always thinking about electrical safety, but this campaign gives us an opportunity to talk to residents to make sure they know what to do to stay safe around our equipment."
-       Tori Gass, Spokesperson, Toronto Hydro

ABOUT TORONTO HYDRO

Toronto Hydro owns and operates the electricity distribution system for Canada's largest city. A leader in conservation and demand management, it has 766,000 customers located in the city of Toronto and distributes approximately 20% of the electricity consumed in Ontario.

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SOURCE Toronto Hydro Corporation