Jump in backyard projects prompts safety concerns

A new report from BC Hydro says a concerning trend is emerging as British Columbians seek relief from COVID-19 restrictions by sprucing up the yards around their homes.

The Crown utility says electrical contact incidents involving weekend tree trimmers, gardeners and landscapers have soared 30 per cent since the pandemic hit last March.

The report says tree trimming is the most common offence as novice pruners drop branches across power lines, frequently causing outages.

More than 100 reports linked to what BC Hydro calls "backyard logging" have been received since March 2020, but the utility suspects the number is much higher. 

Report | Pandemic leads to more ‘backyard logging’ close calls with electricity in #BC: https://t.co/TbrcgPRT7F pic.twitter.com/jGawk68qEl

— BC Hydro (@bchydro) May 7, 2021

It says a survey conducted last month found a quarter of British Columbians, about 1.3 million people, have had either a close call or actual contact with power lines or electrical equipment at some point.

Distribution lines through neighbourhoods can carry up to 25,000 volts while smaller service lines to homes can pack a potentially lethal 240 volts, but Hydro's research says most people don't know three metres is the minimum safe distance from any properly functioning line for both people and equipment.

"BC Hydro is urging the public to make safety around power lines a priority, especially as the weather heats up and British Columbians spend more time outdoors in their own backyards because of the COVID-19 pandemic," the report says.

Understanding the importance of the three metre minimum is a key to safety, Hydro says, because tools don't need to touch distribution lines to be dangerous.

"The electricity voltage from the pole-to-pole distribution lines in B.C. neighbourhoods is capable of “arcing” or jumping to persons or objects, including tools, that come within three metres of the power line," says the report.

If any part of a tree or hedge is within the minimum distance Hydro says homeowners should call 1-800-BCHYDRO and consult a certified arborist if pruning is needed.

Electrical or other infrastructure can also be buried and the utility urges gardeners and landscapers to check with BC1 Call before any shovels go in the ground.