The safety of our customers and our staff is the top priority of Barrie Hydro. When you have a problem, help is only a phone call away, day or night, seven days a week. Electrical workers are equipped with cell phones and beepers enabling a swift response to any emergency.

There is always someone on call to answer your power concerns.

If you would like to speak with someone CONTACT US and ask for our 'Health & Safety Officer'.

Safety Measures Practised and Promoted by Barrie Hydro

Barrie Hydro is continually upgrading the distribution system, to ensure that we are using the safest technology available today.

Tree-trimming is performed on an ongoing basis, to reduce the possibility of access by overhanging vegetation.

Presentations which deliver electrical safety messages to elementary school children and senior citizens with the help of a miniature model of a town's electrical system called "Hazard Hamlet".

All construction projects are performed within the Regulations outlined by the Electrical Utilities Safety Association (EUSA). 

The Act regulating safe working practices in electricity, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, monitors Barrie Hydro's work and installation practices. Government inspectors perform regular spot-checks to ensure compliance. As well, government experts carry out cyclical reviews and deliver recommendations based on their findings. 



 Work safely around electricity!

Barrie Hydro is concerned about your safety. If you think there is a potential electrical hazard, don't hesitate to CONTACT US.

If the work you're about to do involves the use of cranes, trenches, dump trucks, boom trucks, ladder trucks, bucket trucks, augers, excavators, backhoes, scaffolds, ladders or antennas you will likely be working close to overhead or underground power lines.

To avoid serious injury... or even death, please remember these important things:

Call before you dig... Before starting work, call us for the location of underground power lines, especially if you're planning to use auguring or trenching equipment. Our service locators will confirm and mark all Barrie Hydro underground electrical cables.

Survey the work site... Review the job with your crew members, pointing out the location of all overhead and underground power lines within the work area. Always assume that the overhead power lines are energized and potentially dangerous. Carry ladders and other tall objects parallel to the ground to prevent contact. And obey all safety signs that warn you of potential dangers.

Stay well back... Maintain at least 3 meters (10 feet) between you or your equipment and our high-voltage power lines at all times. Lower voltage lines can also injure or kill, but they're more difficult to distinguish from telephone and cable TV wire. Protect yourself... keep away from all overhead lines.


Electrical Utilities Safety Association

Barrie Hydro is a proud member of the Electrical Utilities Safety Association (EUSA). This body performs Health and Safety audits, provides consulting services, develops accident prevention solutions, presents safety courses and training sessions.

They offer: Health and Safety Meeting Packages, Safe Practice Guides, rule books, decals and other "safety awareness" accessories, as well as research and accident investigation services. EUSA field representatives carry out job visits three or four times a year to confirm safe work site practices or infractions and to advise electrical workers of the latest safe practices in their field.

The Electrical Utilities Safety Association is the oldest of Ontario's Safe Workplace Associations (SWAs).

EUSA is one of a handful of sector-specific, not-for-profit, Safe Workplace Associations partially funded by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (formerly the Workers' Compensation Board of Ontario) an agency of the Ontario Provincial Government. EUSA first came into operation on January 1, 1915. Members pay an assessment to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board.

The Association is responsible for sector-specific health and safety program development and promotion, consulting, research and training for our membership.

Visit the Electrical Utilities Safety Association's website for more information.