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AVANORTH Home
**Safety**·March 5, 2026· 4 min read
# **Electrical Safety on Construction Sites**
Electrical hazards are one of the leading causes of workplace fatalities in construction. Proper procedures, training, and equipment prevent electrocutions and electrical injuries.
**AVANORTH Team**
AVANORTH Construction
## The Electrical Hazard in Construction
Electrocution is consistently among the top four causes of construction worker fatalities in North America (the "Fatal Four," along with falls, struck-by incidents, and caught-in/between incidents). In Ontario, the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) and the Ministry of Labour investigate multiple construction-related electrical incidents every year. Most electrical incidents on construction sites are preventable through proper planning, training, and adherence to established procedures.
## Common Electrical Hazards
- **Contact with overhead power lines:** Cranes, aerial lifts, ladder-mounted equipment, concrete pump booms, and dump trucks can make contact with overhead power lines. Contact or close approach (arcing) is immediately lethal. This is the most common cause of electrical fatalities on construction sites.
- **Contact with underground utilities:** Excavation equipment can strike buried electrical cables. High-voltage underground lines can be lethal on contact. Even low-voltage service lines (120/240V) can cause fatal electrocution.
- **Temporary wiring and power tools:** Damaged extension cords, worn power tool cords, missing ground pins, and improper splices create shock and fire hazards. Working in wet or damp conditions with portable electrical equipment increases the risk.
- **Energized electrical systems:** Workers performing work on or near electrical panels, switchgear, transformers, and wiring that is energized (live) are at risk of shock or arc flash. Lock-out/tag-out procedures exist specifically to prevent this.
## Overhead Power Line Safety
Ontario Regulation 213/91 (Construction Projects) establishes minimum approach distances for construction equipment operating near overhead power lines:
- 750V to 150,000V: minimum 3 metres from the power line
- 150,001V to 250,000V: minimum 4.5 metres
- Over 250,000V: minimum 6 metres
If the voltage is unknown, maintain a minimum distance of 7.5 metres. When work must occur within the minimum approach distance, the utility company must be contacted to de-energize the line, install protective coverings, or provide a trained safety watch.
Before starting any work where equipment could approach overhead lines:
- Identify all overhead power lines on and adjacent to the site
- Determine the voltage (contact the utility company if unknown)
- Post warning signs at approach zones
- Brief all equipment operators on the locations and minimum distances
- Assign a dedicated signal person if equipment must work near the limits of approach
## Underground Electrical Safety
The legal requirement for utility locates (Ontario One Call) before any excavation applies to electrical utilities:
- Locate marks indicate the approximate horizontal location of underground utilities. The actual position may vary by up to 1 metre from the locate marks.
- Within 1 metre of the locate marks, mechanical excavation must stop and hand digging (or careful vacuum excavation) must be used to expose and confirm the utility location.
- If an unmarked cable or conduit is exposed during excavation, stop work immediately, secure the area, and contact the utility company for identification.
## Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) Protection
All 120V, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacle outlets on construction sites that are not part of the permanent wiring of the building must have GFCI protection (Ontario Electrical Safety Code). GFCIs detect ground faults (current leaking through a person's body to ground) and interrupt the circuit within milliseconds, preventing lethal shock.
- Use portable GFCI devices on every extension cord
- Test GFCI devices before each day's use (press the test button; verify the device trips; reset)
- Do not bypass or disable GFCI protection for any reason
## Lock-Out/Tag-Out
Before any work on electrical equipment or systems, the energy source must be locked out (physically disconnected and locked in the off position) and tagged (labelled with the name of the person who locked it out and the reason). This prevents someone else from re-energizing the system while work is in progress.
- Only qualified electrical workers should perform lock-out/tag-out on electrical systems
- After lock-out, verify the circuit is de-energized using a properly rated voltage tester
- Each worker in the area must apply their own personal lock
- Never remove another person's lock without following the established procedure for abandoned locks
## Personal Protective Equipment
- Voltage-rated insulating gloves (tested and within the testing interval) for work on or near energized components
- Dielectric (non-conductive) hard hats (Class E)
- Arc-rated clothing and face protection for work involving potential arc flash exposure
- Insulated tools rated for the voltage being worked on
At AVANORTH, electrical safety is a non-negotiable element of our site safety program. We verify utility locates, enforce minimum approach distances for overhead lines, require GFCI protection on all temporary power, and mandate lock-out/tag-out procedures before any electrical work. These are fundamental protocols that protect our workers' lives.
#electrical #safety #hazards
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