Electricity Designed to Heal

Power Saves Lives

There are some situations in which the power simply cannot fail. It is an essential for life.

In a hospital, situations like these are everywhere from operating rooms to neo-natal intensive care units. Even refrigerators for medications and the computer systems that record the updates for treatment must be operating at all times.

At the new Redevelopment and Expansion Project at Joseph Brant Hospital in Burlington, contractor Chris Cahill of Cahill Electric worked with IBEW Local 105 members to ensure these systems are on the cutting edge of new technology to work better and save money for a growing community in the years to come. Almost 200,000 hours of electrical work were invested in making sure the systems were built right and built to last.

IBEW Local 105 Business Manager Lorne Newick says, “Our members work on a lot of hospitals, schools, and large industrial plants. We’re always working on state-of-the-art technology, so we have an edge.”

Cahill’s company, which hires IBEW electricians, has been providing essential work at the hospital for many years including everything from the main power and lighting needs to patient tracking, communications, fire alarm and building automation.

“It is vitally important that the people who work on construction projects at healthcare facilities are well trained and certified because the electricians are installing systems that are crucial to the operation of the facility and the treatment of patients,” said Cahill.

Burlington needs more hospital beds and treatment rooms to reduce wait times and produce better outcomes for patients. The addition to the hospital will provide 172 new patient beds, 9 new operating theatres, and will handle almost 45,000 visits a year.

Additionally, the community will get a hospital in which the building itself is designed to heal.

Stunning views of the shore of Lake Ontario or the Niagara Escarpment give recovering patients a much needed morale boost. Family members can sleep in the adaptable rooms to provide additional comfort that speeds up recovery times.

A green roof helps reduce cooling costs in summer. Internal light sensors constantly measure light levels and then add what’s needed through energy efficient LED systems.

And to ensure that the life-giving power never fails, the Uninterrupted Power Supply system (UPS) will provide an instant transition to the standby generators if power from the grid is lost.

“Our members are proud to play a part in bringing this essential new facility to the community,” says Newick. “It promises to be a whole new way of looking at the healing process.”

When lives are on the line, and it has to be done right, only the advanced skills training and reliability of ECAO contractors and IBEW electricians will do.

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