Buried Cables and Pipes

If you are breaking the surface no matter how shallow you are planning to excavate assume there could be a buried pipe or cable below ground. The services are not always at the line and level shown on utility company records.

Buried/ Underground services, particularly electricity and gas, can be dangerous.  Damage to electricity cables can cause a flash, fires or explosions, leading to severe burns or death.  Gas leaks can cause a fire or explosion.

Underground services can be found in highways, footpaths/ sidewalks, and on construction sites. 

Always assume they are present. 

Always treat any services found as LIVE.

Contact your utility supply company. Accidents have happened because people have mistaken one service for another. Damage can result from excavation or penetration of the ground.

·                     Get the plans of the underground services in your area. Remember: utility service connections (cables & pipes from the main to the point of supply) may not be shown on plans.

·                     Use a cable and pipe locating devices, (be trained in its use).

·                     Mark the positions of the cables and pipes before starting work.

·                     Look for signs of service connection cables or pipes e.g. meters or service connection entry to a building.

·                     Hand dig trial holes (particularly if there are plastic pipes that the locator cannot find.

Cables could include electric and fibre-optic cables.

Pipes could include gas, sewer, fuel and water pipes.

Remember that plastic pipes are particularly difficult to locate.

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) equipment is developing rapidly and circumstances may dictate the need for a GPR survey,

Remember there is no single solution to locating buried services. A combination of the various location techniques may be the best option.

When you are working

•              Watch for signs of services as work progresses and report any damage to a cable, pipe or pipe coating and hand-dig near buried services.  (Spades & shovels are safer than picks and forks).
   

•              If an excavator strikes an electric cable stay in the cab until the cable has been made safe. If you must evacuate the cab - JUMP CLEAR
   

•              DO NOT use hand-held power tools or a mechanical excavator close to the marked position of electricity cable or gas pipe.
   

•              DO NOT use hand-held power tools directly over the marked line of a cable unless you know it is at a safe depth beneath the surface being worked on, and you have the physical means to prevent the tool striking it.
   

•              NEVER handle or moved exposed services or use them as a step or handhold and always check that any cable embedded in concrete has been made DEAD before it is broken out.