Electricity

1. Electricity Electricity has revolutionized our civilization and simplifies our home and work lives every day. Even though most of us have lived with electricity all our lives, every year Albertans are injured or killed due to electrical incidents that would have been avoided. We experience an average of 350 each year in our service territory alone. We will cover: How to plan to work safely Regulations Consequences The Power System What to do if you are involved in an incidentElectricity has revolutionized our civilization and simplifies our home and work lives every day. Even though most of us have lived with electricity all our lives, every year Albertans are injured or killed due to electrical incidents that would have been avoided. We experience an average of 350 each year in our service territory alone. We will cover: How to plan to work safely Regulations Consequences The Power System What to do if you are involved in an incident

2. About FortisAlberta Distribution poles and wires 900,000 poles in service Operate and maintain 108,000 km. of power lines 460,000 customers 1,000 employees FortisAlberta is a distribution utility – we operate the poles and wires We are a regulated utilityFortisAlberta is a distribution utility – we operate the poles and wires We are a regulated utility

3. How it works How electricity gets to you Generation: About half of the electricity in Alberta is generated by coal-fired generation plants. Natural gas and renewable generation, including hydroelectric, biomass and wind-powered plants, are also sources of Alberta's electricity.  Transmission: Once generated, electricity travels across Alberta from generating plants over high-voltage transmission lines to local transformers. The transformers reduce the voltage level making it suitable for local distribution to customers. Distribution - this is where FortisAlberta comes inElectricity travels from the transformers via low-voltage distribution lines, owned by FortisAlberta, to your home or business.How electricity gets to you Generation: About half of the electricity in Alberta is generated by coal-fired generation plants. Natural gas and renewable generation, including hydroelectric, biomass and wind-powered plants, are also sources of Alberta's electricity. Transmission: Once generated, electricity travels across Alberta from generating plants over high-voltage transmission lines to local transformers. The transformers reduce the voltage level making it suitable for local distribution to customers. Distribution - this is where FortisAlberta comes inElectricity travels from the transformers via low-voltage distribution lines, owned by FortisAlberta, to your home or business.

4. JUST keeping Albertans safe Safety is such an issue for all utilities that we formed JUST– the Joint Utility Safety Team. Members are: FortisAlberta, ENMAX, EPCOR, AltaLink, and the Government of Alberta’s Worksafe Alberta Together, we launched an ad campaign to remind people to stay safe around electricity by always asking themselves, “Where’s the Line” Designed to reach target audience of males, 18 – 50, including farmers and ranchers and the Agri-business, as these individuals are at highest risk of contacting a power line. They are typically the workers in trucks and other big equipmentSafety is such an issue for all utilities that we formed JUST– the Joint Utility Safety Team. Members are: FortisAlberta, ENMAX, EPCOR, AltaLink, and the Government of Alberta’s Worksafe Alberta Together, we launched an ad campaign to remind people to stay safe around electricity by always asking themselves, “Where’s the Line” Designed to reach target audience of males, 18 – 50, including farmers and ranchers and the Agri-business, as these individuals are at highest risk of contacting a power line. They are typically the workers in trucks and other big equipment

5. Public Contacts Did you know that in Alberta, FortisAlberta power lines were struck 395 times in 2008? 282 were overhead contacts either directly on a power line or causing a power line to come down 68 were direct contact with underground lines or impacts that caused a contact 282 were overhead contacts either directly on a power line or causing a power line to come down 68 were direct contact with underground lines or impacts that caused a contact

6. Overhead Contacts on FortisAlberta Lines in 2008 395 Contacts in Total Construction Industry – 246 contacts Equipment involved in overhead line contacts: Gravel Trucks – 50 Track Hoe - 42 Crane Trucks – 13 Hauling/Delivery Trucks - 13 What can this be attributed to? People don’t know size of equipment They stop under power lines They are in a hurryWhat can this be attributed to? People don’t know size of equipment They stop under power lines They are in a hurry

7. Underground Contacts on FortisAlberta Lines in 2008 395 Contacts in Total Construction Industry – 246 contacts Equipment involved in underground contacts: Back Hoe – 36 Power Auger - 7 Track Hoe - 5 Directional Drill 5 What can this be attributed to? People don’t know size of equipment They stop under power lines They are in a hurryWhat can this be attributed to? People don’t know size of equipment They stop under power lines They are in a hurry

8. Even People Contacted the Lines

9. Planning to work safely Where’s the line? What are you doing? How are you dealing with the hazards? What skills do people have? What do you do if something goes wrong?

10. Safe limit of approach 7 meters if you don’t know the voltage

11. Working near power lines

12. Safe Limit of approach You must contact the Utility who will determine the voltage. Until the Utility determines the voltage you must remain at least 7 meters away.You must contact the Utility who will determine the voltage. Until the Utility determines the voltage you must remain at least 7 meters away.

13. Moving Equipment or Buildings 3.6 m for pedestrian areas 4.1 m for driveways 4.2 m for agricultural areas 4.3 m underground pipelines 4.8 m for alleys, commercial premises 5.3 m for roads

14. Moving High Loads Alberta Traffic Act - anything over 5.3 m must have a permit and notify utility companies

15. Understand

16. Shock Characteristics As the current increases, around 20 milliamps, your muscles contract and you may not be able to let go. As it gets to 50 it can start to affect your breathing and can interrupt your heart function. There are three main factors that will predict the impact on the victim: the length of time in the circuit, the path the electricity has taken through their body and the amount of current.As the current increases, around 20 milliamps, your muscles contract and you may not be able to let go. As it gets to 50 it can start to affect your breathing and can interrupt your heart function. There are three main factors that will predict the impact on the victim: the length of time in the circuit, the path the electricity has taken through their body and the amount of current.

17. What can Happen

18. Step Potential Similar to touch potential. This is why cows often die when they are standing next to a tree that is hit by lightening. The difference in voltage across their body causes enough current flow to cause the damage. Electricity radiates out in concentric circles. If two different parts of your body bridge different circles (e.g.: your two feet) the difference in potential will create a circuit and result in shockSimilar to touch potential. This is why cows often die when they are standing next to a tree that is hit by lightening. The difference in voltage across their body causes enough current flow to cause the damage. Electricity radiates out in concentric circles. If two different parts of your body bridge different circles (e.g.: your two feet) the difference in potential will create a circuit and result in shock

19. Vehicle Accident If your vehicle contacts an overhead line Drive clear of the line Stay on or inside the vehicle Drive clear of the power line: make sure it isn’t going to make the situation worse (e.g.: pulling down the structure). The safest place is inside the vehicle until the utility representative arrives. Warn others to stay away and call for help.Drive clear of the power line: make sure it isn’t going to make the situation worse (e.g.: pulling down the structure). The safest place is inside the vehicle until the utility representative arrives. Warn others to stay away and call for help.

20. Vehicle Accident If you must get out because of FIRE: Jump clear with both feet together Don’t touch your vehicle and the ground at the same time Hop away from vehicle for at least 10 metres This is a last resort!! Before jumping look for a safe path. Jump clear with both feet together and in control, just far enough to ensure you aren’t touching the vehicle. Hop with both feet together for at least 10 metres before walking away.This is a last resort!! Before jumping look for a safe path. Jump clear with both feet together and in control, just far enough to ensure you aren’t touching the vehicle. Hop with both feet together for at least 10 metres before walking away.

21. Excavation Procedures near underground Power Cables Notify Alberta First Call Receive instructions from the Power Authority No power digging within one metre of power cable without permission Always Call before You Dig!! www.alberta1call.com, Alberta one-Call Corporation 1-800-242-3477 Overhead electrical equipment must also be identified and controlled If Alberta 1st Call tells you that FortisAlberta power lines are in the vicinity where you want to dig, you must give us 48 hours of notification before digging and use an approved hydro-vac company to perform the dig Utility pole bases or other electrical equipment foundations and systems must not be exposed or damaged during excavation Other safe work planning should include: Meet locators at site Mark locations of all buried electrical equipment Review locate slips before excavation Post warning signs along corridor Plan location of spoil piles so as not to reduce clearances to power linesAlways Call before You Dig!! www.alberta1call.com, Alberta one-Call Corporation 1-800-242-3477 Overhead electrical equipment must also be identified and controlled If Alberta 1st Call tells you that FortisAlberta power lines are in the vicinity where you want to dig, you must give us 48 hours of notification before digging and use an approved hydro-vac company to perform the dig Utility pole bases or other electrical equipment foundations and systems must not be exposed or damaged during excavation Other safe work planning should include: Meet locators at site Mark locations of all buried electrical equipment Review locate slips before excavation Post warning signs along corridor Plan location of spoil piles so as not to reduce clearances to power lines

22. What will you do to keep yourself safe around power lines? Three important promises I’ll take away for myself today: Stay at least 7 meters away from power lines Get to know the height of my equipment Always make a safe work plan for myself that includes the location of the power lines