ESA Honour's 2014 Exceptional Electrical Safety Leaders

Electrical Safety Authority recognizes safety leaders with Ontario Electrical Safety Awards

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Oct. 1, 2014 /CNW/ - Everyone has a part to play in electrical safety, and each year a few outstanding individuals and organizations stand out in their commitment to building a safer province.  Their contributions were honoured yesterday with the presentation of the 2014 Ontario Electrical Safety Awards recognizing exceptional contributions in three categories.

The Electrical Safety Authority's (ESA's) Chair of the Board Charles Cipolla, Deputy Minister Wendy Tilford, Ministry of Government and Consumer Services, and Scott Saint, Chief Public Safety Officer presented the awards to this year's recipients:

• Community/Home Safety: Hydro Ottawa –for the development of their electrical safety and energy conservation educational program for elementary school children in the Ottawa and surrounding areas. The program teaches elementary students how to use electricity safely and wisely. The information is provided through free programs that highlight cautionary real life stories and demonstrations in both official languages.
• Powerline Safety: PowerStream Inc – for its exceptional efforts in promoting powerline safety initiatives directed at both consumers and workers over the past year. The initiatives included consistent powerline safety messaging targeted to consumers on PowerStream's website, social media channels and through printed materials distributed at events.
• Worker Safety: Utilities Kingston & the City of Kingston - for their on-going commitment to hosting their annual "Safety Days" for employees and contractors who work for Utilities Kingston to provide safe work practices, including topics such as Safe Limits of Approach & the importance of "Calling Before you Dig" to avoid underground cables. The overall goal is to improve safety in the workplace.
• Chief Public Safety Officer's Special Recognition for Electrical Safety: Ted Wieclawek, Ontario Fire Marshal and Chief, Emergency Management (OFMEM) & the OFMEM team for their strong commitment to placing electrical safety at the core of the storm relief during the 2013 Ice Storm.

"ESA's goal is to eliminate electrical fatalities and injuries in Ontario and ensure the highest level of public electrical safety," said Scott Saint, Chief Public Safety Officer, Electrical Safety Authority. "The effort of this year's winners to educate both workers and members of the public on important safety messages ensures we are that much closer to reaching our goal of getting to zero."

The awards were established five years ago to formally recognize the important contributions of individuals and organizations toward reducing electrical fatalities, serious injuries and loss.

Quick Facts

• This is the fifth year that the Ontario Electrical Safety Awards have been held.
• The awards are given out in three categories: Powerline Safety, Worker Safety and Consumer/Home Safety
• The Chief Public Safety Officer (CPSO) Special Recognition award recognizes individuals or organizations that have made outstanding contributions to electrical safety.

The Electrical Safety Authority

The Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) is an administrative authority acting on behalf of the Government of Ontario with specific responsibilities under the Electricity Act and the Safety and Consumer Statutes Administration Act.  As part of its mandate, ESA is responsible for administering regulation in four key areas: the Ontario Electrical Safety Code; licensing of Electrical Contractors and Master Electricians; electrical distribution safety; and electrical product safety.

Image with caption: "L-R: Gerard Hunt, Chief Administrative Officer, City of Kingston, Jim Keech, President & CEO, Utilities Kingston, David Collie, President & CEO, Electrical Safety Authority, Mark Henderson, EVP Asset Management and Chief Operating Officer, PowerStream Inc., Bryce Conrad, President & CEO, Hydro Ottawa, Ted Wieclawek, Ontario Fire Marshal, Chief, Emergency Management Ontario during the Electrical Safety Authority awards ceremony held at the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga, ON on Sept 30, 2014. Cole Garside/CNW (CNW Group/Electrical Safety Authority)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20141001_C1856_PHOTO_EN_6197.jpg

SOURCE: Electrical Safety Authority

For further information: Electrical Safety Authority Media Relations: 905-712-7819 or [email protected]