Safety Essentials

All works on and around buried services must be covered by a method statement, risk assessment with a permit to excavate/work issued

The foreman must have carried out a pre-start risk assessment detailing all known services in the area of work ensuring also the details have been briefed to all employees

Buried service colour identification for recent installations:

Colour / Service
Black / Electricity
Red / Electricity-some high voltage cables
Orange / Street lighting in england &wales and traffic control cables
Purple / Road lighting in scotland
Yellow / Gas
Grey/white / Telecommunications
Green / Cable tv and some telecommunications
Blue / Water

Older cables and non-utility cables may not conform to the above colour system as devised by NJUG.

Gas

  1. Check gas supply company plans before digging,mark all known pipes
  2. Check for marker posts /incoming gas services / valves covers and any other clues / signs to bereferred to
  3. Use a cable and pipe locator for tracing older metal pipes,however be aware modern pipe-work is made of pe, hence only alternative is to hand dig in the area to locate the service
  4. Remember gas has a flammable and explosive content, at the slightest hint of gas escape,leave the area, do not smoke, call transcoimmediately
  5. Do not drop tools onto main as it may cause cracking to pipe
  6. Ensure all pipes are supported.
  7. Follow gas supply company specification for back-filling

Water mains

  1. Check water supply company plans before digging
  2. Check for water marking posts valves covers and any other clues /signs to be referred to
  3. Use a cable and pipe locator for tracing older metal pipe,however be aware modern pipe-work is made of pe hence only alternative is to hand dig in the area to locate the service
  4. Trace line of main by trial pits and mark all known pipes, burst pipe can fill an excavation quickly,if damaged call the water supply company
  5. Remember , water at high level can be fatal
  6. Do not drop tools onto main, as it may cause cracking to pipe
  7. Ensure all pipes are supported.
  8. Follow water supply company specification for back-filling

Sewers

1Check water supply company plans before digging

2If a foul sewer is fractured-leave excavation and report it to the relevant water company

3Wear PPE due to the risk of contamination from sewage,wash your hands before eating,drinking or smoking. Read your card on weils disease given to you on your induction.if you feel unwell, report it to your doctor immediately

4If you break a storm water sewer whilst rain is falling ,vacate the excavation

5Follow water supply company specification for back-filling

Electricity supply cables

  1. Before digging check plans provided by the local electricity supplycompany, telecommunications company and cable tv company
  2. Use a cable –locating device before digging that’s in good working orderand within its calibration date ensure you are trained to use it,whenever possible use a genny.
  3. Treat all cables as live,do not accept verbal assurances
  4. Hand –dig trial holes to expose cables,look for marker tap or tiles above cables and continue using the cable locator to establish exact location
  5. When exposed, protect cables from damage and support them
  6. If the cable is accidentally damaged keep all persons clear until the electric company have inspected it
  7. All damages must be reported immediately
  8. Before back filling, ensure marker tape and tiles are replaced
  9. Follow relevant supply company specification for back-filling
  10. Do not use power tools or excavators to break out live cables that are cast within concrete.inform your supervisor and the supply company immediately of the situation
  11. Do not use power tools or excavators within 0.5 metres of a cable

Remember

Always treat buried services with care and use the service drawings as a guide only