Hydro-Québec Employee Health and Safety a Top Priority

Hydro Quebec

December 19, 2017

Hydro-Québec has released a report by the consulting firm ERM, as well as a summarized action plan that the company will implement to continue improving its workplace health and safety record.

“We endorse ERM’s recommendations and we will follow up on them,” said Éric Martel, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hydro-Québec. “We worked closely with ERM throughout the year and have already taken action. We have laid the foundations for real change in our workplace health and safety culture. Although there is still work to do, our goal is clear: we are aiming for zero serious or fatal accidents, and we will spare no effort to protect the people who work with Hydro-Québec, be they employees or contractors.”

“We are very satisfied with Hydro-Québec’s action plan to improve its workplace health and safety record and, with ERM’s recommendations, the company will be able to improve even further,” said Hélène V. Gagnon, corporate director and co-chair of the Special Committee on Workplace Health and Safety set up by the Hydro-Québec Board of Directors. “The Board of Directors will continue to monitor this issue closely. We want Hydro-Québec to become a reference in health and safety.”

A special committee established by the Board of Directors
In the days after the December 9, 2016, accident on the Romaine jobsite, Hydro-Québec’s Board of Directors set up a special committee to assess its current practices and ensure that the highest health and safety standards are met on its jobsites. On January 12, 2017, the committee tasked ERM with an independent, external examination of Hydro-Québec’s current practices.

Concrete actions
Hydro-Québec works together with workers, contractors, trade union partners and its own employees to ensure all parties are involved in the process. A great number of measures and solutions have been put in place to foster safer behaviors on the Romaine jobsite:

  • Presence of health and safety change agents
  • Daily start-of-shift meetings about health and safety
  • Compulsory training for new workers on new health and safety standards
  • Workshops on safety around heavy vehicles

A permanent commitment
“Every accident is one too many,” said Michael D. Penner, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hydro-Québec. “The Board of Directors has set up a permanent committee to continue to monitor the improvement of our workplace health and safety record. We affirm our commitment to continuing this process in collaboration with all stakeholders.”

For more information:

Hydro-Québec
514 289-5005

Related Articles


Latest Articles

  • Navigating Tariff Uncertainty as an Electrical Contractor

    April 15, 2025 By Matthew Biswas These three words put me into a catatonic shock – Supply Chain Disruption. It seems like just yesterday I was standing at a counter asking for products I’d bought 100’s of times before and being told they are on backorder with no expected delivery date. Circuit breakers, dimmers, panels,… Read More…

  • Four Ways Permanent Power Enahnces Outdoor Spaces

    Four Ways Permanent Power Enahnces Outdoor Spaces

    April 14, 2025 Today’s workplaces are expanding beyond the four walls of an office. As technology continues to evolve, employees are looking for new and alternative workspaces to inspire creativity and increase productivity. This includes taking their work to outdoor spaces. Bringing technology to outdoor spaces has become a challenge for facility managers and property… Read More…

  • CAF-FCA Provides Recomendations on Apprenticeship Investment

    CAF-FCA Provides Recomendations on Apprenticeship Investment

    April 13, 2025 CAF-FCA have provided an outline of actionable recommendations—developed through national consultation—to enhance accessibility, reduce financial barriers, and better align apprenticeship training with industry needs. Source Read More…

  • New Report: Preparing Alberta’s Buildings for Severe Weather

    New Report: Preparing Alberta’s Buildings for Severe Weather

    April 13, 2025 Alberta is facing more severe weather events, with rising temperatures, wildfires, and more frequent extreme storms threatening homes and businesses. Our report, Preparing Alberta’s Buildings for Severe Weather−written in partnership with the Alberta Ecotrust Retrofit Accelerator program−highlights the need for deep retrofits to ensure the province’s buildings can withstand these changing conditions. Four… Read More…


Changing Scene