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Toronto Hydro workers remove a metal hydro plate where a dog was electrocuted on Jan. 13 on the corner of Annette and Keele Sts. It is believed several children were zapped after making contact with a similar plate yesterday. (DON PEAT/Sun Media)

Several children shocked by stray voltage – just two weeks after a second dog was electrocuted - has finally prompted Toronto Hydro to mobilize 600 workers to inspect its aging street-level infrastructure.

The recent zapping, involving 3 to 5 children from Regent Park/Duke of York Junior Public school, happened yesterday near the corner of Dundas and Sumach Sts.

Several students on a field trip, told their teachers they received a shock as they walked along the sidewalk, a letter home to parents from the school's principal stated. Staff determined that each of the students had stepped on a metal hydro plate, known as a handwell.

TDSB officials said the children appeared uninjured but cautioned parents to take them to their family doctor just in case.

Hydro was called and inspected the area.

In the wake of the student shock, hydro announced it will ramp up efforts to check for stray voltage across the city.

“All available resources are being assigned to finding and fixing equipment that poses a safety hazard,” said David O’Brien, president and CEO, Toronto Hydro Corporation. “This operation will involve more than 600 employees, and is a 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week operation.

"We are committed to fixing this problem. All of our resources will be dedicated to this, in the interests of public safety."

The utility had been conducting mobile inspections in the wake of two dogs being electrocuted in the city's west end, near Dundas and Keele Sts. in November and January. Dogs were also shocked, but not killed, in several incidents across the city.

As a refresher please refer to ESPP Module 21 on the use and application of the voltage tester.