Underground Services and Safe Excavation
A Line on a Drawing Is Not a Located Service
An excavation plan can show where a cable or pipe is expected, but the actual service may be offset, unrecorded or at a different depth. Striking it can cause electric shock, fire, a gas release, flooding or loss of critical supply. Before breaking ground, combine current service information with a competent site survey, mark what is found and use a controlled digging method that accounts for uncertainty.
Controls to confirm
- Obtain and review available service plans with the service owners and the work team; identify the proposed excavation limits, known uncertainties and a safe method before authorising ground disturbance.
- Have trained personnel use suitable locating equipment to detect and mark services at the site; repeat checks as the work advances and treat unexpected indications or unidentified lines as reasons to stop and reassess.
- Use the approved safe-digging method near suspected services, control mechanical excavation and expose services carefully; protect workers from trench collapse and keep a response plan for any damage or release.
Today’s action
Before the first cut today, compare the dig location with service plans and the marked site survey; stop if the information conflicts or is incomplete.
Source guidance
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