Construction and Electrical Safety
Working Near Medium-Voltage Lines
- Work safely near power lines
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Hydro-Québec offers a number of solutions to help you work safely near medium-voltage power lines.
Read this brochure:
Travaux à proximité des lignes électriques : Aide mémoire pour l'entrepreneur (in French only)
[PDF—3.0 Mb]
It is against the law to work less than three metres from power lines. This clearance applies to both people and equipment.
The goal of Hydro-Québec and its partners in the construction industry is to completely eliminate electrical accidents.
If there are power lines near your job site, call 1 888 385-7252.
It's quick and easy! Within two business days, a Hydro-Québec evaluator will visit the site to make sure it is safe. Hydro-Québec guarantees that any required work will be done within five days.
A few ways to make your work safer
Moving the lines
A Hydro-Québec line crew will move the lines away from the scaffolding by attaching them to temporary crossarms. Signs will be posted to remind workers that the lines are live and that they must stay at least three metres away from them.
Installing a cover on the lines
If you have to work less than three metres from power lines, Hydro-Québec can install an insulating sheath on them, called a conductor cover.
This allows you to get as close as 1.2 metres (4 feet) to the lines.
Signs will be posted to remind workers that the lines are insulated and that they must stay at least 1.2 metres away from them.
If the work requires scaffolding, the highest section must be made of fiberglass and have a protective barrier located at least 1.2 metres from the power lines.
Non-conductive scaffolding and protective barriers are supplied free of charge for a maximum period of eight days by Hydro-Québec, which will refer you to its closest distribution centre.
De-energizing the lines
De-energizing a line involves cutting power to it and grounding it for added safety. Because electrical current no longer flows through it, you can approach such a line with no problem.
Signs will be posted to remind workers that the line has been de-energized.
When a line is de-energized, the current must be redirected to other lines. In some cases, this may require building a temporary line segment.
Because this is too expensive for many job sites, alternative solutions are more common.
