Author: Josh McCulloch

This article appeared in the Fall 2025 edition of EDA’s Distributor Magazine. View the full publication here.

At Oshawa Power, a commitment to safety is a core value and foundational part of our organizational philosophy, reinforcing public trust and enhancing quality of life for the people who live and work in our community. Our approach to safety blends proactive educational outreach with rigorous internal safety practices, creating a robust culture of safety that underscores our commitment to keeping every member of our local community and staff safe and sound, every day.

Inspiring Safety Education From a Young Age

Oshawa’s increasing electrical safety awareness begins with our connection to the youth in our community. The cornerstone of our education efforts, our Hazard Hamlet, was introduced in 1983. Regularly appearing at community events and in classrooms across Oshawa for more than 40 years, the interactive display has created lasting memories, inspired curious questions, and raised electrical safety awareness for thousands of kids across Oshawa. Through interactive demonstrations that depict realistic electrical hazards, we are able to actively engage young audiences, teach them how to avoid hazards across our community, raise awareness of the unseen hazards that exist, and impart responsible behaviours around electrical infrastructure. In many cases, the display is recognized by accompanying adults from their youth, confirming the impact our efforts have made in building awareness and a lasting connection within our community. Engagement and understanding of electrical hazard are showing up in requests for more information, and our electrical safety awareness is growing with improvements in our public safety surveys, specifically regarding the safe distance from both overhead and downed wires.

“Our commitment to community safety is fundamentally about trust. When we educate the youngest members of our community, we’re creating a lasting impact that empowers new generations to live safely, treat electricity with respect, and trust our organization to keep our city safe.”

– Daniel Arbour, President & CEO, Oshawa Power

Oshawa Power is listening to our community asking for more information and is also exploring new ways to modernize our safety programming to meet evolving needs. Plans are underway to develop new digital content and interactive online experiences supporting the Hazard Hamlet to ensure safety resources are accessible and available to our community beyond local events and school visits.

Leading by Example

Oshawa Power’s internal practices reflect the same safety principles we promote through education.

This culture of safety is deeply embedded in our daily operations. From regular tailboard meetings and safety audits, to cross-departmental training and leadership engagement, every employee plays a vital role in maintaining our record of excellence. This consistency protects our team while fostering trust in our ability to keep our community safe while delivering a reliable supply of electricity to homes and businesses across Oshawa.

Our organization is also one of only four Ontario utilities with the Infrastructure Health & Safety Association’s COR® Certification. Meeting the requirements for this certification, including passing external audits, ensures that our team is consistently reviewing safety policies and procedures and creating a culture that values open, two-way communications regarding safety practices.

This year, our organization surpassed 1.5 million work hours without a Lost-Time Injury — a remarkable milestone reflecting over seven years of operations without a serious incident. We’re proud to invest that same commitment to safety back into the communities we serve.

Committed to a Safer, Smarter Future

Looking ahead, we continue to develop valuable partnerships with local organizations and educational institutions that allow us to expand the reach of our safety programs, raising awareness across generations and reaching new demographics. Oshawa Power’s commitment to continuous improvement and innovative safety education programs will continue to build strong connections with our community, reaching our city’s youth and their families, fostering a culture of safety that extends beyond our organization and across the City of Oshawa.

Last Week’s Crane Incident Emphasizes Importance of Powerline Awareness

Last week, more than 2,000 homes and businesses across Oshawa experienced a power outage after a crane accidentally contacted a 13.8KV overhead powerline. This contact knocked down a section of our wires, leaving our team to complete difficult repairs under potentially dangerous conditions. Thankfully for the crews located on site, the crane was being operated remotely, preventing any injuries. However, significant equipment damage occurred, both to our infrastructure and to the contractors equipment.

This incident serves as a critical reminder of the importance of powerline safety, especially on construction sites.

Understanding Ontario’s Limits of Approach

Ontario Regulation 213/91: Construction Projects outlines the safe “Limits of Approach” when working near electrical infrastructure. These standards specify the minimum safe distances required between workers, equipment, and energized powerlines. For powerlines between 750 volts and 15,000 volts (15 kV), like the 13.8KV line involved in this incident, the following minimum clearances must be maintained:

• Authorized Workers: At least 3 feet (0.9 metres)
• Equipment (cranes, backhoes, etc.): At least 10 feet (3 metres)

This regulation sets out the safe Limits of Approach for lines carrying different voltage levels, and full details can be found on the IHSA’s website.

Consistently following these guidelines is crucial in preventing incidents and ensuring safety on site.

Digging or Building? Always Call Ontario One Call First

If you’re planning any construction or landscaping work near powerlines, the safest first step is contacting Ontario One Call. This free service provides locates for underground utilities and important information about overhead lines.

Visit Ontario One Call or call 1-800-400-2255 at least five business days before starting work. It’s easy, free, and could save lives.

Essential Powerline Safety Tips for Everyone

• Look Up and Look Out: Always identify overhead powerlines before beginning work.
• Know Your Limits: Respect the safe distances set by the Limits of Approach guidelines.
• Stay Alert: Regularly remind your crew about powerline locations and safety measures.
• Ask for Help: Contact Oshawa Power directly if you’re uncertain or require safety guidance.

Together, Let’s Keep Oshawa Safe

Safety around electricity isn’t optional, it’s everyone’s duty. Working together, we can prevent power outages, equipment damage, and above all, keep each other safe in our community.

For additional safety resources, please visit our Safety & Outages Page.

Stay safe, Oshawa!

July 10 is National Lineworker Appreciation Day

Today, we want to say thank you to the lineworkers who keep our lights on and our homes powered every day. Our lineworkers do essential, dangerous, and often difficult work. They maintain and improve Oshawa’s local power grid, restore power under dangerous conditions during and after extreme weather, and help keep our community safe.

To celebrate National Lineworker Appreciation Day, we talked to some of our lineworkers about their jobs, their most memorable moments, and what it means to play an essential part in the foundation of our local community.

What inspired you to become a lineworker?

“When I was young, I remember seeing lineworkers up in bucket trucks and thinking it was the most badass job in the world. It seemed so exciting. I wanted to do something important like that when I grew up.”

“I love being outside and doing work with my hands. Linework lets me do both, and I get to help people every day. It feels good.”

“It seemed like the most exciting job around. Working up high, using big equipment, and helping others. It’s everything I hoped it would be.”

What is the most challenging part of your job?

“The weather is probably the hardest part. We have to work in rain, snow, heat, and cold. Even when the weather is terrible, people need power.”

“Learning about the new SmartGrid has been challenging. It’s a system that can automatically fix some problems. It’s very advanced, and we need to keep learning to ensure we get the most out of it.”

“Planning jobs carefully to keep everyone safe and productive is tough. Every job has many steps, and it’s important we get each one right.”

How do you prepare for working in bad weather?

“Good clothing is very important. I wear layers in the winter and drink lots of water in the summer. Being ready helps us stay safe and do our jobs well.”

“Lots of coffee helps, especially when it’s cold. I always pack extra gloves and socks because staying warm in the bucket can be tough.”

“Making sure we have the right gear like warm boots, waterproof coats, and extra clothes in the truck is important. We have to be prepared for anything.”

What is something most people don’t know about your job?

“Our job can be very dangerous. We always follow strict safety rules. Even small mistakes can cause serious injuries, so safety always comes first.”

“Restoring power can take longer than people expect. We don’t just flip a switch. We have to find the problem, fix damaged parts, and make sure everything is safe before turning the power back on.”

“We do a lot of driving in big trucks. People might not realize how careful we have to be when driving through traffic and tight spaces. Safe driving is a big part of the job.”

What is a job or outage that you’ll never forget?

“The ice storm in 1998 was unforgettable. We worked long hours, day and night. Trees and power lines were everywhere. It was tough work, but people in the community showed their thanks. That made it easier.”

“Going to the U.S. after a hurricane to help was something I’ll always remember. Seeing families who had lost so much and being able to help was powerful. They were so grateful for what we did and the way our industry banded together across borders was inspiring.”

“Helping build the electrical system for the Northwoods Business Park was special. I felt proud because it was not only a difficult job, but it will help grow our community.”

How does it feel knowing your work helps power your own community?

“It feels really good. Sometimes we miss holidays or special moments with our own families to help others. But when people stop to thank us, it means a lot. It makes the hard parts worth it.”

“There’s pride in driving around and seeing lights on, knowing we helped make that happen. It feels great knowing our work helps people in our own town.”

What is one message you would like to share with our customers across Oshawa?

“Please slow down and give us room when you see us working on the road. We want to get home safely, too.”

“Move over when you see our trucks. Your patience helps protect us and keeps everyone safe.”

To our lineworkers: THANK YOU!

Your hard work and dedication keep our community strong. Everyone at Oshawa Power, and everyone in our community, appreciate the work you do to keep the lights on across our city.