The four shock factors   Electrical hazards   Power safety quiz   Beware of power lines!   Pool safety   Construction sites   Info-Excavation   Power safety games		Zero tolerance for accidents! It is against the law to work less than three metres from power lines. This clearance applies to both people and equipment. The goal of Hydro-Québec and its partners in the construction industry is to completely eliminate electrical accidents. If there are power lines near your job site, call Hydro-Québec's customer services department at the number in the upper right corner of your electricity bill. Hydro-Québec will suggest one of three solutions: Moving the lines Installing a cover on the lines De-energizing the lines It's quick and easy! Within two business days, a Hydro-Québec evaluator will visit the site to make sure it is safe. Hydro-Québec guarantees that any required work will be done within five days. For more information on working near power lines, download the following brochure: Travaux à proximité des lignes électriques : Aide mémoire pour l'entrepreneur (in French only) [PDF—3.0 Mo] If your project involves any digging, call Info-excavation at 1-800-663-9228 Moving the lines A Hydro-Québec line crew will move the lines away from the scaffolding by attaching them to temporary crossarms. Signs will be posted to remind workers that the lines are live and that they must stay at least three metres away from them. Installing a cover on the lines If you have to work less than three metres from power lines, Hydro-Québec can install an insulating sheath on them, called a conductor cover. This allows you to get as close as 1.2 metres (4 feet) to the lines. Signs will be posted to remind workers that the lines are insulated and that they must stay at least 1.2 metres away from them. If the work requires scaffolding, the highest section must be made of fiberglass and have a protective barrier located at least 1.2 metres from the power lines. Non-conductive scaffolding and protective barriers are supplied free of charge for a maximum period of eight days by Hydro-Québec, which will refer you to its closest distribution centre. De-energizing the lines De-energizing a line involves cutting power to it and grounding it for added safety. Because electrical current no longer flows through it, you can approach such a line with no problem. Signs will be posted to remind workers that the line has been de-energized. When a line is de-energized, the current must be redirected to other lines. In some cases, this may require building a temporary line segment. Because this is too expensive for many job sites, alternative solutions are more common. Frequently Asked Questions Q1. What should we watch for on future job sites? Make sure that the scheduled work will not require any person, load, equipment, mobile scaffolding or piece of machinery to come within 3 metres (10 feet) of overhead power lines. If there are power lines on or near the site, don't take any unnecessary risks: call Hydro-Québec immediately and it will determine whether the power lines are at a safe distance from the work area. Q2. Which overhead power lines are really dangerous? All power lines are dangerous, but as a rule of thumb, the higher they are, the more dangerous they are. Running along the top of electric poles, above the transformers, are medium-voltage lines (751 to 44,000 volts). They are not insulated. Contact with these wires will cause serious injury that may result in amputation or death. Q3. What if there is work to be done less than 3 metres from power lines? If the safety measures recommended by Hydro-Québec allow workers to come within 1.2 metres of live power lines (protected by a conductor cover), you must fill out the form. Q4. Can we use scaffolding less than 3 metres from power lines? Yes. In such cases, Hydro-Québec will supply you with fiberglass scaffolding equipped with a protective barrier. The Hydro-Québec evaluator will refer you to the nearest distribution centre, where you will obtain the scaffolding free of charge upon presentation of your signed Hydro-Québec agreement. Q5. If I see a worker being electrocuted by a power line or an electrified object, is it safe to touch him? Do not touch him or you will be electrocuted too! For a low-voltage line (less than 750 volts), cut the current at the master switch. For a medium-voltage line (751 to 25,000 volts), call Hydro-Québec. If the worker is lying on the ground, check to see whether any wires or live equipment are touching him. If not, you can provide assistance.