Preparing for Winter Power Outages | Thursday, January 5, 2012

This week's power outages in Elsa and Keno prompted us to take another look a booklet we produced a few years ago in cooperation with the Yukon government's Emergency Measures Organization. This booklet focuses on what to do during winter power outages, but it will prepare you for a range of situations with the aim of lessening the negative impacts on your and your family.

Please take the time to give it a read, and share it with others who you think could benefit from the information.

 

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Now On Video | Thursday, September 29, 2011

Earlier this summer we told you about an information session we offered to help you learn how to use our Marsh Lake boat lock. We have now had a short instructional video produced about using the lock system. We hope you find it useful. Thank you to local photographer Cathie Archbould for putting this together for us.

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How to Use a Boat Lock | Thursday, July 14, 2011

Last week a group of people in three canoes chose to go through the control gates at our Lewes River Control Structure instead of using the boat lock as they should have. One of the canoes capsized and a female was trapped under water for several minutes. While she managed to escape, the end result could have been tragic. We cannot stress enough how dangerous it is to swim or take a boat through the gates.

On Wednesday July 20th at 7 p.m. we will hold a safety information night to show people how to use our boatlock and to explain why it is so dangerous to try to take a watercraft through the control gates. Everyone is welcome. It will take place at the Lewes River Control Structure, just off the Alaska Highway on the way to Marsh Lake. Please contact us if you need directions.

Instructions on how to use out boat lock can also be found on our website.

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Near Drowning at our Lewes Control Structure | Thursday, July 7, 2011

This week there was a near tragedy at our Lewes River Control Structure just south of Whitehorse. A canoeing party of six in three canoes tried to go through the control gates, despite the prominent warning sign on the structure.

The group set off from the boat launch up stream wearing their life jackets. However within a few minutes, for whatever reason, some of them removed their safety gear.

Two of the canoes passed through one of our control gates without a problem, but the third canoe capsized. A female passenger was trapped under the water and our staff said it was several minutes before she was able to break free of the strong current. One of the other canoes came back for her and was able to pull her to safety. The second person who'd been in the capsized canoe was able to grab his life jacket and put it on before the current dragged him downstream, where he was rescued by his travelling companions. 

Yukon Energy staff were working on the structure at the time but they were not able to reach the canoeists to provide assistance.

Please, please help us get the message out that it is very dangerous to attempt to travel through the gates. There is a boat lock at the control structure and it should be used by everyone travelling in any kind of watercraft.

We are planning a public information session at the control structure this summer to help people understand why they should not travel through the gates, and teach them how to use the boatlock. Watch this blog for details shortly.

 

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Electricity, the Invisible Killer | Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Every year in Canada there are more than 1,000 contacts with energized high voltage power lines (with vehicles, heavy equipment, trees, etc.). Incidents of break-ins at electrical substations are also fairly common. In both cases, first responders such as the RCMP, fire department, or ambulance attendants are called. If these first responders are not aware of the dangers of energized power lines, they could be seriously injured or killed.

This is why Yukon Energy, along with a number of other electrical utilities, partnered with the Canadian Electricity Association to produce a safety DVD called "Electricity the Invisible Killer". Yukon Energy plans to distribute this DVD to first responders throughout the territory. However the information is valuable to all Yukoners. We encourage you to take 20 minutes to watch the video.

 

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Our Success is No Accident | Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Fourteen hundred and thirty-four days, or nearly four years...that’s how long it’s been since a Yukon Energy employee has missed a shift as a result of a workplace injury.

It’s a statistic that Yukon Energy’s Manager of Health and Safety, Melanie Pettefer, is very proud of. “It’s huge, not just for Yukon Energy but for any utility, given our industry’s potential for exposure to hazards.”
 
In Melanie’s mind, there are a number of factors that have contributed to our favourable safety record. For one thing, there’s been a shift in mindset. “I think we have a more positive safety culture now than we did a few years ago,” she says. “There seems to be a shared concern among the staff for everyone’s safety.” That can be seen, in part, at the company’s Joint Health and Safety Committee level. The committee, made up of both managers and union employees, is very active and now works from its own Terms of Reference so everyone knows what Occupational Health and Safety and Yukon Energy can expect of them.
 
Melanie also credits strong leadership, saying that a visible commitment to safety from Senior Management has made a big difference.
 
Yukon Energy took a giant step forward in terms of safety when, last November, we obtained our Certificate of Recognition (COR). The COR is issued to employers who develop and implement health and safety programs that meet established standards set out by the Northern Safety Network and the Yukon Workers’ Compensation Health and Safety Board. We’ve now taken that further and are requiring any construction contractors bidding on projects over $500,000 in 2010 to be COR certified. The dollar value threshold will be reduced to $100,000 in 2011 and beginning in 2012 it will be a requirement for all construction contractors to have their COR or Small Employer COR.
 
"When we started working towards COR almost two years ago, there was a lack of written procedures and safe work practices,” Melanie says. “The COR process has forced us to identify our deficiencies, correct them, and have them independently audited afterwards.”
 
Even with COR, Yukon Energy continues to make improvements aimed at making our workplace the safest it can possibly be. For instance, we are developing a system that will show how we prioritize hazards. We have completely dusted off our Confined Space Program and are also producing a set of safety rules that will be posted in all our work areas. And we are revising all of our policies to reflect our current Health and Safety Management program.
 
One of the things that helps keep Yukon Energy on track is our affiliation with groups such as the Canadian Electricity Association and the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering. “National groups such as these help us keep current with safety,” Melanie says. “It’s a great feeling to know that we’re holding our own and in some cases even exceeding what some other large Canadian utilities are doing.”
 
Melanie points out that change is difficult, but it was and is needed, and she’s grateful for the support she’s received from her colleagues as she’s worked to bring about this change. “I can’t do it alone. Only together can we make Health and Safety work for everyone at Yukon Energy, but that’s what’s starting to happen here now and it’s very gratifying to see.”
 

 

 

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Getting to the COR of the Matter | Friday, March 26, 2010

Are you a contrator who does work for us? Then here's some information that's important for you to know about.

You will soon be required to be Certificate of Recognition (COR) certified. The COR is issued to employers who develop and implement health and safety programs that meet the highest safety standards as set out by the Northern Safety Network and the Yukon Workers’ Compensation Health and Safety Board. 

Yukon Energy became COR certified last year. Now, in continuing our efforts to make Yukon Energy as safe a workplace as it can possibly be, we are phasing in the COR requirement as part of our tendering and contracting process.

Phase I will become effective July 1, 2010 and applies to construction contracts valued at $500,000 or more.

Phase II begins July 1, 2011 and applies to construction contracts valued at $100,000 or more.

Phase III begins July 1, 2012 and applies to construction contracts of any value.

For more information, please call (867) 393-5335 or 393-5353 or send an email to melaine.pettefer@yec.yk.ca.

 

 

 

 

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Be Prepared! | Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Winter storms, power outages, floods...no one likes to have to deal with unexpected situations like this. But the more planning you do and the better prepared you are prior to any emergency, the easier it will be to cope once one does occur. That's why we have produced a Yukon Emergency Preparedness booklet. If you live in Yukon, watch for a paper copy in English to arrive in your mailbox in the next few weeks. French copies will be available upon request.

We would like to thank Manitoba Hydro, Yukon's Emergency Measures Organization and the Yukon government's French Language Services Directorate for their assistance with this project.

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Preparing for a Winter Power Outage | Monday, November 23, 2009

As promised, here are some tips regarding what to do before, during, and after a winter power outage.

Before an Outage

  • Prepare an emergency kit that includes candles, matches, flashlights, a battery-powered or wind-up portable radio, a first aid kit and other basics. Make sure everyone in your house knows where the kit is kept.
  • Stock up on food that won't spoil, like canned and dried goods and energy bars. Have a manual operated can opener handy.
  • Check flashlights and battery-powered portable radios regularly to ensure that they are working, and you have extra batteries. A radio is an important source of weather and emergency information during a storm. A radio in a vehicle can be useful if you don't have a portable radio in your home.
  • Have emergency heating equipment and fuel (a gas fireplace, wood burning stove or fireplace) so you can keep at least one room livable. Be sure the room is well ventilated.
  • Make sure your home is properly insulated. Caulk and weather-strip doors and windows to keep cold air out.
  • Install storm windows or cover windows with plastic from the inside to provide insulation.
  • Know how to shut off water valves.
  • If you have medication that requires refrigeration, check with your pharmacist for guidance on proper storage during an extended outage.
  • Review the process for manually operating an electric garage door.
  • Have an emergency plan and an alternate place to stay that will have a back-up heat source. Ensure everyone in your household is familiar with the emergency plan.
  • Invest in a generator if you can. It can make a huge difference in allowing you to be able to use the essential appliances in your home.
  •  Purchase inexpensive, small packets of hand and foot warmers. These packets self heat when shaken or squeezed and will warm you up in a power outage.

During an Outage

  • Turn off all tools, appliances and electronic equipment and turn the thermostat(s) down to minimum. Power can be restored more easily when there isn't a heavy load on the electrical system. By unplugging all sensitive electronic equipment (TVs, stereo, DVD player, microwave oven, computer, cordless telephone, answering machine, garage door opener, etc.) you can protect against possible voltage irregularities that can occur when power is being restored.
  • Leave one light switch on, so you know when power is restored.
  • Dress in warm layers. Wear a hat and mittens (mittens are better than gloves).
  • Snowdrifts can be used as a makeshift freezer for food. (Be aware of attracting animals).
  • Snow can be melted for an additional water source.
  • Turn on your bathroom and kitchen water taps slightly, allowing water to drip. This will help prevent pipes from freezing.
  • If possible, avoid opening the refrigerator or freezer door. Food can stay cold in a full refrigerator for up to 24 hours, and in a well-packed freezer for 48 hours (24 hours if it is half-packed).
  • Don't use charcoal or gas barbeques indoors. They emit deadly poisonous gases.
  • If you have to evacuate because of a prolonged outage, turn off your main breaker.

After an Outage

  • Switch on the main breaker if it was turned off.
  • Let the electrical system stabilize before reconnecting appliances. Turn the thermostats up first, then reconnect the refrigerator and freezer. Wait 10 to 15 minutes before reconnecting other appliances.
  • Be extra cautious if you go outside to inspect for damage after a storm. Downed or hanging electrical wires can be hidden by snowdrifts, trees or debris, and could be live. Never attempt to touch or moved downed lines. Keep children and pets away from them.
  • Check with/help neighbors.
  • If pipes have frozen during the outage, remove any insulation, completely open all faucets and pour hot water over the pipes, starting where they are most exposed to the cold. A hand-held hair fryer, used with caution, also works well.
  • Inspect the food that is in your fridge and freezer for spoilage. If in doubt, don't eat it.

For more information, contact the Yukon's Emergency Measures Organization.

 

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Safety Comes First | Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Yukon Energy recently received some good news. We have attained our Certificate of Recognition (COR) for workplace safety. The COR is issued to employers who develop and implement health and safety programs that meet established standards set out by the Northern Safety Network and the Yukon Workers' Compensation Health and Safety Board.

A COR recognizes that Yukon Energy Corporation’s health and safety management system has been evaluated by an independent certified auditor and found to meet industry standards. The audit was carried out at Yukon Energy’s Dawson City, Mayo and Whitehorse operations. 

There are 80 employees at Yukon Energy, and many of them work at high risk jobs. That's why it was important to us that we get independent confirmation that we were taking all precautions to keep our staff safe. 

Our slogan? Safety is a part of every decision we make and every action we take.

 

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