As the Oct. 21 election heats up, Greater Sudbury Hydro is reminding everyone that, no matter how small, placing elections signs into the ground can lead to serious injury or even death.
“Anything going into the ground six inches—that’s 15 centimetres-- deep or more requires a locate,” Wendy Watson, hydro's director of communications, said in a news release Friday. “This include election signs, seasonal messages, decorations -- everything. We have noticed lately that some campaign teams are placing signs near transformer boxes. This is a terrible idea. Those boxes have underground electrical cables running from them, and if the cable is pierced, the person placing the sign could be electrocuted.
“A GSH locater recently saw a campaign volunteer placing a sign right in front of a transformer; that person said they were told to put the signs in front of transformers for visibility. Bad idea!”
While campaign volunteers are not likely to get locates for every sign placement, they should stay far away from pad-mount transformers, those green hydro boxes placed in some yards.
“We fully support the electoral process and understand people have putting up signs for decades,” Watson is quoted as saying. “We really want to make sure everyone stays safe. Do not put any sign six inches or deeper, and stay as far away as possible from the transformer boxes.”
To get a locate, visit Ontario One Call online www.on1call.com or call 1-800-400-2255.
