Recently in Victoria, one of our power line technicians came across a power pole covered in toys and decorative objects, resembling a colourful art installation.
Playtime, tea parties and a dangerous trend around electrical infrastructure
On a sunny afternoon in a Vancouver Island neighbourhood, a group of children assembled chairs and cups, chatting happily as they hosted an afternoon tea. The centrepiece of their gathering was a waist‑high green metal box at the edge of the yard. To them, it was just a convenient table, but in reality it was a pad‑mounted transformer. These are the green metal boxes often seen near sidewalks or roads that contain high-voltage equipment that takes electricity from underground lines and converts it for residential use.
While pad-mounted transformers are designed to be secure and have warnings on them, they are also always energized, and any failure or damage could lead to lethal electric shock. Of course, the children playing were unaware, and under the impression that the box was safe for playing. Fortunately, a passerby who happened to be one of our team members intervened on-site, explaining to the children and nearby adults that the equipment is dangerous and not safe for play.
Situations like this are becoming more common as warmer weather draws families outdoors. Children are playing outside longer, neighbours are organizing yard sales and block parties, and communities are using every bit of outdoor space available. With that comes increased interaction with electrical infrastructure that often blends into the background.
According to our recent survey, nearly 20 per cent of British Columbians don’t realize it’s dangerous to climb or play on pad‑mounted transformers, and almost one in ten say they’ve seen children doing exactly that.
In one recent Lower Mainland incident, a backyard play structure was built directly next to a pad‑mounted transformer containing switch gear. Our crews had to remove the playground, as what appeared to be a fun, creative addition to the yard actually placed children just feet away from high‑voltage equipment.
A backyard play structure built beside a pad‑mounted transformer had to be removed after crews found children were playing just feet from high‑voltage electrical equipment.
Unsafe behaviour also extends beyond the green boxes. Power poles across the province are frequently used as signposts for bake sales, garage sales, and community events, even though attaching signs is prohibited. Recently in Victoria, one of our power line technicians came across a power pole covered in toys and decorative objects, resembling a colourful art installation.
While 61 per cent of British Columbians say they know posting signs or other items on power poles is unsafe or not allowed, six in ten people living near our power poles report seeing signs or other things posted regularly. At the same time, 27 per cent of residents don't realize that using nails, staples, or screws on poles is dangerous.
Those fasteners can pose a serious risk to our line crews, who must climb poles during routine maintenance or urgent emergency repairs, often during storms or in low‑visibility conditions. Nails and staples can cause injuries, puncture protective equipment, or lead to slips and falls. Added hazards such as chained objects or hanging decorations can also interfere with equipment and slow emergency response times when every minute matters.
Staying safe outdoors doesn't require specialized knowledge, just awareness and a few simple precautions. We're urging the public to leave electrical infrastructure to the experts. Only authorized workers should touch or access transformers, power poles, or power lines. Signs, chains, decorations, and other objects should never be attached.
We all need to follow the same guidance to stay safe and understand the risks of electricity, and teaching children about the risks of electricity early is also key. Tell your children never to climb, play on, or place objects on pad-mounted transformers. Keep children and others at least three metres away from the front of the locked doors and one metre from all other sides. If a transformer is unlocked, open, or damaged, stay at least 10 metres back and contact us immediately.
We also encourage families and educators to make use of Electrical Safety Week and Power Smart for Schools resources, which help kids learn how to spot electrical hazards, understand why equipment is dangerous even when it looks harmless, and remember to keep a safe distance.
When something doesn't look right, reporting it, rather than trying to fix it, is the safest step. Make sure to contact us if you notice vegetation growing too close to wires, damaged equipment, unlocked transformers, or unsafe activity near power lines or poles. Hazards can be reported by calling 1 800 BCHYDRO (1 800 224 9376). If you see a downed or damaged line or pad-mounted transformer box, it's considered an emergency, and you should call 9-1-1 immediately and stay ten metres away.
Playtime and community activities should create good memories, not close calls. By giving electrical equipment the space it needs and helping children and neighbours recognize hidden dangers, British Columbians can help keep their communities, and the crews who serve them, safe all season long.
For more information on electrical safety and outdoor guidelines, visit bchydro.com/3metres or bchydro.com/safety.