A safety-first approach to family, farming and electricity

Ben, a FortisAlberta employee, embodies Alberta’s entrepreneurial spirit. When he’s not leading our expert power line technicians serving the Brooks and Redcliff areas as Supervisor, Field Operations, you’ll find him tending to his cereal, grain, alfalfa and oilseed crops, helping his wife run their veterinary clinic or enjoying the outdoors with their three young children. 

Across Ben’s work and home life, one value remains paramount: safety.  It’s a guiding principle for all our employees, but it carries extra weight for Albertans living and working in rural communities. 

Ben is both a FortisAlberta employee and customer. So, he’s continually taking stock of the potential electricity-related hazards he and his family might encounter at work or at home. 

“Risk can hide in plain sight, often in places we don’t always think about,” Ben says. “Don’t get ahead of yourself; take a step back to stop and think about where the hazards might be.” 

Hazards hide high and low 

As a farmer, Ben works with tall machinery that can easily reach to within seven metres of an overhead line. Bringing any object this close to an energized line creates a serious risk, since electricity can jump or “arc” to objects even without direct contact. This is why it’s always important to ask yourself “Where’s the line?” when working around electricity. 

Whatever the work, it’s important to plan ahead and be aware of your surroundings. Know the height and width of your equipment, use a spotter and keep that seven-metre distance whether you’re operating, or parked in, farm equipment. 

The ground beneath your feet 

Ben never assumes the ground beneath him is risk-free either. He understands that power lines often lie just below the surface near homes, yards and worksites. No matter where he’s digging Ben stays vigilant, because an accidental hit on an underground line could lead to costly repairs, severe injuries or worse. That’s why he always checks before he digs. Albertans can request a free underground line locate at utilitysafety.ca. 

Play safe, stay safe 

Transformer boxes, utility poles, and substations can draw kids’ attention as being interesting places to play. Ben makes sure his kids understand the importance of always keeping a safe distance from these types of equipment because he understands how dangerous they can be to curious little ones. 

“Kids are a lot smarter than we give them credit for but still, they don’t always perceive risk the same way adults do. There are lots of fun, age-friendly resources online that you can use to help your kids learn about electricity safety.” 

We’re here for you 

Ben wants everyone to know that he and the rest of the FortisAlberta team are always ready to share what they know about staying safe around electricity. 

“If you spot something you think could be a hazard, or you’re just not sure, give us a call. Our technicians are highly trained and equipped to assess and address safety concerns.”