07
Keeping the public and our employees safe
Public safety and the safety of our employees is our top priority. We work continuously to educate and inform the communities we serve about the importance of electrical safety.
The sixth annual Elementary School Poster Contest saw 69 entries submitted from students in schools across Waterloo Region. This year’s theme was “Look up and look out for overhead powerlines.” Young artists designed a poster depicting the contest theme. Enova employees voted to select five finalists in each age group. An online public vote determined the six winning artists. 397 people voted to select the winners. Each winner received special recognition through an in-class presentation in front of their peers, offering students another chance to ask safety questions and discuss the poster themes and key messages.
69
entries in the Elementary School Electrical Safety Poster Contest.
Our award-winning school safety presentations returned to classrooms full-time across Waterloo Region after a virtual option was used during the pandemic. Each presentation covers home electrical safety, electricity distribution, outdoor safety and cautionary case studies aimed at educating future generations. A rotating team of Enova employees and retirees completed 40 presentations in 2023.
1,105
students participated in Enova’s School Safety Program.
The importance of requesting a locate before digging is a key theme in our safety education. More than 33,000 locate requests were completed in 2023, ensuring the safety of our crews, community residents, and contractors.
33,000
locate requests completed in 2023.
2023 saw a 60 per cent decrease in employee illness and injury claims across the organization.
60%
decrease in employee illness and injury claims.
Our efforts start with the area’s youngest residents through our School Safety Program, which provides free in-class safety presentations for grades 5 and 6 students in our service territory. These interactive presentations educate and entertain students while providing vital safety information.
The 2023 Elementary School Electrical Safety Poster Contest invited students in grades 1-8 to get creative and design a safety poster outlining the dangers of overhead powerlines. The winning artists received a gift card and an Enova prize pack, and the winning posters were featured in bill inserts, on social media, on the corporate website and in safety advertising.
Here are the winning posters from the 2023 Elementary School Electrical Safety Poster Contest:
Enova works with area industries to promote electrical safety across all lines of work. Our employees conduct First Responder safety training at fire stations across our service territory. We also sponsored the 2023 Workplace Safety & Prevention Services’ Southwestern Ontario Partnership in Prevention Conference, where hundreds of industry professionals met to discuss safety best practices.
Safety and well-being above all also means we practice what we preach. Enova employees receive regular safety training and attend safety meetings throughout the year. The focus on safety and well-being led to a 60 per cent decrease in employee illness and injury claims. Our Health and Safety team also made significant strides in harmonizing safety policies between Enova’s two offices, work that will continue in 2024.
Our communications efforts also focused on safety education. Safety messaging is an important part of our quarterly customer eBlasts, print and digital advertising, radio ads, customer bill inserts, and website content. We also promote our series of animated Lucky the Squirrel videos. Each short video in the series focuses on a main electrical safety theme and delivers the message in a simple and fun way.