May 9, 2024 – Municipal Affairs, Government of Alberta, has compiled a summary report of electrical incidents reported between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2023.

(Regulations under the Safety Codes Act require all electrical accidents, contacts or fires be reported to the Electrical Administrator. The information used in the report is provided by industry, notes Municipal Affairs, adding that any change in wording is done for clarification and/or to protect the identity of the individuals involved.)

In 2023, a total of 2,018 electrical incidents were reported, involving:

• Overhead powerlines
• Underground powerlines
• Other types of electrical installations or equipment

(Since not all incidents are reported, Municipal Affairs says their report underrepresents the incidents that occurred in Alberta.)

The fatalities included:

• a worker was dumping gravel and their bucket contacted a powerline.
• a worker was using a pressure washer and received an electric shock.

Non-fatal injuries included:

• A lineman was performing a task on a transformer pole; he raised his arm while working and his screwdriver contacted the powerline.
• A worker cut into a pipe with live cables, and was exposed to an arc flash resulting in burns.
• A worker was levelling concrete when the float pole contacted a powerline, resulting in an arc flash injury.
• A worker received a minor electric shock while working at a power substation.
• A worker received an electric shock when they touched the positive and negative conductors on a combiner box at the same time.
• A lineman was performing maintenance on a powerline when they received an electric shock.
• While tree trimming, a tree branch unexpectedly fell opposite of a worker, striking a powerline and the worker’s right arm, leading to an electric shock.
• A worker using a tool that detects anomalies using electricity received an electric shock when setting up the equipment.
• A student was testing voltage when they received an electric shock.
• A worker received an electric shock while moving a temporary cable that had been damaged.
• A worker was testing a controller when they received an electric shock.
• An operator went to open a hatch above a motor and received an electric shock when they touched the motor.
• A student accidentally touched the metal of the two conductors and received an electric shock.
• When a student was disconnecting lab equipment, they received an electric shock.
• A worker received an electric shock from equipment in a wind turbine that was wired improperly.

DOWNLOAD the Municipal Affairs’ Summary (PDF): AB Municipal Affairs Electrical Incidents 2023

DOWNLOAD the Safety Codes Act (PDF): Safety Codes Act 01APR2023