Jobsite safety
Whether you're working for a company or on your own property, if you are working near overhead or underground power lines, it is your responsibility to ensure the safety of the people on the jobsite.
Your responsibilities
The following points must be taken into account when working near electrical installations.
Comply with safety regulations
Keep yourself and everything else (tools, work instruments, etc.) at least 3 metre away from the power lines. Avoid touching the power lines or any related equipment. Avoid digging within 1 metre of underground electrical structures. Avoid touching the grounding system.
Planning and coordinating work
Gather relevant information such as the schedule, work plans and photos. Ensure coordination between Hydro‑Québec and the various stakeholders. Ensure that you are onsite when the safety measures are being put in place.
Contact Info-Excavation
Before starting any excavation work, you must submit a locate request to Info-Excavation. It's simple and free of charge.
Only authorized specialists may carry out vegetation control work
If you notice that a tree located too close to the power system needs to be pruned or cut down, don't do it yourself. Instead, contact an arborist who is a member of the Québec chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. They will submit a jobsite safety request if necessary.
Read and apply the agreement
The form titled Convention - Intervention à proximité de lignes électriques (agreement for conducting work near power lines) is a mandatory agreement under which Hydro‑Québec can authorize and oversee the work by ensuring the safety of the jobsite, employees and the public. The form is provided following a jobsite safety request assessed by Hydro‑Québec and is not accessible online.
How Hydro‑Québec can help you
Hydro‑Québec can help you when your work is carried out near electrical installations. Please note that there may be fees attached to certain measures.
Free assessment of hazards
Hydro‑Québec can inspect the site and identify the hazards related to working near power lines and underground infrastructure. If necessary, we can propose safety measures (costs may apply).
Implementation of safety measures
If safety measures are necessary, Hydro‑Québec implements applicable protective elements, explains what needs to be verified each day and coordinates the signature of the agreement. Once the work is completed, Hydro‑Québec removes the protective elements upon your request.
Examples of safety measures
Installation of conductor covers
With conductor covers installed, you can get as close as 1.2 m to a line. This temporary measure can only be used for a maximum of seven days.
Moving medium-voltage lines
Hydro‑Québec moves lines using temporary H-frames. Visual markers indicate that the lines are energized (live) to remind you to keep at least 3 metres away.
De-energizing lines
De-energizing a line means cutting power to it, so you can approach it safely. There are visual markers indicating that the line is de-energized (dead).
Additional resources to help you
Discover the safety principles when it comes to working safely near overhead and underground power lines as well as what you can do to avoid accidents.
What you need to do to submit a request
Learn more about the jobsite safety request, the roles and responsibilities of the person who submits the request, the steps involved in the process and how to prepare.
Safety measures
Learn more about Hydro‑Québec's safety measures for work near overhead lines, and the temporary support systems applicable for excavation work at a distance of less than 1.5 m from a support structure, such as a pole or a guy wire.
At all times, it is forbidden to use, modify or remove Hydro‑Québec equipment.
Submit a jobsite safety request
With this step, assess the hazards associated with the work and determine which protection measures offered by Hydro‑Québec will ensure the safety of everyone present. After reading about the safety measures on the site, including in the PDF documents, you can fill in the following request form.
Would you rather speak to someone?
Please note that arborists can only submit their request by telephone.
Residential customers
Authorized arborists
- Call 514 385‑7252 (Montreal) or 1 888 385‑7252 (other regions)
Business customers
- Call 1 877 956‑5696
You may also be interested in these pages
The following pages contain key information to ensure compliance with your project's standards while ensuring everyone's safety.