The ELECTRICAL SAFETY COALITION OF ONTARIO recently launched an electrical safety campaign aimed at suppressing the demand for live work on energized electrical equipment. The campaign was unveiled by coalition partners:

• ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO
• ELECTRICAL SAFETY AUTHORITY
• ELECTRICAL & UTILITIES SAFETY ASSOCIATION
• INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT PREVENTION ASSOCIATION
• INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS

According to the coalition, working live is responsible for 50% of all
occupational injuries and deaths due to contact with electrical
equipment. This campaign was created to encourage clients not to ask
their electrician(s) to work live.

The coalition recognizes that those who work on high-voltage power and
utility lines must work live, which is why they’re more interested in
reaching industrial, commercial and residential settings where
electricians are asked to work live rather than undertake the service
work with a planned shut-down or locking out/tagging out (LOTO), and
without other protective procedures in place.

A key item of the campaign is the Authorization Form. Developed by
coalition partners, it asks clients, general contractors or consulting
engineers to acknowledge the serious implications of asking an
electrician to work live, and reconsider the request. The form clearly
outlines the responsibilities and liabilities that will be assumed by
each party should an agreement to work live be made. The intent is to
create awareness among those who would ask electricians to work live;
to let them know the severity of the possible consequences, and get
them thinking of other, safer alternatives.

CLICK HERE
to visit the Electrical Safety Coalition of Ontario, where you’ll find
additional information and collateral materials, including the
Authorization Form.