Working safely is a top priority at NB Power, and as a result, we offer several safety services to contractors working in New Brunswick. Before beginning work, please contact NB Power to see how we can help make your job site a safer place to work. We provide the following services:

• Locating and marking underground wiring
• De-energizing and insulating overhead lines
• Raising overhead lines
• Providing warning signs for hazard zones

For your convenience, we now offer two ways to access these services:

Contractor Service Line
You may contact NB Power by dialling our toll free number 1-800-663-6272. To speak with one of our customer interaction agents directly, press the # button.

Online Submissions
NB Power has recently added the option of submitting requests online 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Using this online submission gives you the convenience of making requests on evenings and weekends, so you don’t have to take time away from the job during business hours. NB Power personnel will respond to your online requests within 48 hours.

Click here to visit the request page. (please note: this form is not intended for emergencies)

Protect your bottom line and your lifeline

A little planning and preparation before construction begins can save you from costly delays, fines and repairs. More importantly, planning can prevent needless injury and even death.

Keep your distance

Check with NB Power to identify voltages on any overhead lines and find out how close you can safely work near the lines. If you must conduct work near overhead lines, call NB Power first to assess the area. NB Power can insulate or deactivate the lines to make the area safer to work in.

Minimum safe distances:

• Up to 750 volts - 0.9 metres (3 feet)
• 751 to 100 000 volts - 3.6 metres (12 feet)
• 100 001 to 250 000 volts - 5.2 metres (17 feet)
• 250 001 to 345 000 volts - 6.1 metres (20 feet)

Call before you dig

Hitting or damaging underground electric cables can be just as dangerous as touching overhead lines, resulting in serious injury or death. To avoid contact with underground lines, call NB Power at least two working days before work is scheduled to begin. NB Power can come to the job site and mark the location of underground wiring.

Worksite safety tips

• Use caution when moving equipment or tools around overhead lines. This includes cranes, backhoes, scaffolding, or long lengths of pipe. Never get closer than the miniumum safe distance.

• Use a designated signaller who knows the minimum safe distances to help equipment operators steer clear of overhead lines.

• Remember, the minimum safe distances apply to anything that can possibly reach, slip, or fall from the work area. Increase your working distance whenever you're using equipment that can fall or collapse, such as booms, cranes, ladders and scaffolds.
  
• Keep hazards and the minimum safe distances well marked with signs provided by NB Power.
  
• If the minimum safe distances can't be maintained when moving equipment around lines, take another rout or call NB Power.
  
• If you must work within close proximity to power lines call NB Power to deactivate/deenergize the lines or insulate the wires prior to commencing the work.

• Workers should keep clear of all big equipment/machines working around power lines. 
  
• Locator flags can tell you where the underground cables are located but not how deeply they are buried. Hand digging only, using safe techniques, must be used to determine the exact location of the cables, prior to beginning any machine digging operation.

What to do if you accidentally contact the lines

Call 911 and NB Power (1 800 663-6272)

If possible, try and drive a safe distance away from any fallen line (10 metres/33 feet). If you cannot safely stay clear, stay on the equipment or in the vehicle until an NB Power representative says it is safe to get off.

If your vehicle is on fire, open the doors as wide as you can, while keeping your feet inside, then put both feet together at the edge of the opening and jump at least 0.6 - 0.9 metres (2-3 feet) clear of the vehicle with both feet together. NEVER TOUCH THE GROUND AND THE VEHICLE AT THE SAME TIME. Move 10 metres (33 feet) away by keeping both feet on the ground and shuffling your feet or by jumping with both feet together. This prevents you from becoming a part of the electrical circuit, avoiding serious injury or death.

Touching someone in contact with electricity could shock you as well. If a co-worker touches a power line stay clear and call 911 and NB Power. Also keep other workers away from the area to avoid electrocution.